Privacy in the workplace

[Ciscokid]

I am a consultant in the IT field. I was asked to install some software today which would monitor almost everything someone does on their PC. This software logs where you on the internet, logs your email activity, it logs your keystrokes when you log into applications, it logs what applications you're launching, it even captures print screens of your computer screen at regular intervals.

What reaction would you have if you found out that your employer was logging everything you did at your computer? Would it affect you greatly? Would you find another job? Or would it be no big deal?

[Bishka]

I would find another job. That constant monitoring bugs me.

[Ciscokid]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

I would find another job. That constant monitoring bugs me.

Yeah, me too I think. I even felt a little wierd installing this stuff. Logging internet activity is fairly common, but logging every little thing that happens seems to be overkill unless you work for a top secret facility. This customer was in the salt business for goodness sake.

[ChrisP]

Yeah I'd definitely seek other employment. I work in IT too, and the worst we have is monitoring of sites surfed via the proxy... basically to make sure you're not downloading terrabytes of data on the work connection.

There's performance and then there's Big Brother

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

This customer was in the salt business for goodness sake.

The 'secret' salt business.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

I am a consultant in the IT field. I was asked to install some software today which would monitor almost everything someone does on their PC. This software logs where you on the internet, logs your email activity, it logs your keystrokes when you log into applications, it logs what applications you're launching, it even captures print screens of your computer screen at regular intervals.

What reaction would you have if you found out that your employer was logging everything you did at your computer? Would it affect you greatly? Would you find another job? Or would it be no big deal?

I would consider they have every right to do so, as it's their equipment, and I would conclude that since they are so unwilling to trust their employees, we are no longer a very good fit for each other, and would update my resume accordingly.

Employees usually live up (or down) to their employers expectations.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

The 'secret' salt business.

Maybe their afraid of lawsuits if one of their employees is a-salt-ed while on the job?

[gnomon]

Wouldn't bother me at all.

Their company, their equipment, their payroll.

As far as trust. I work in the retail industry where internal theft is the highest form of theft for every company I've been employed and I believe holds true for the entire industry.

Or maybe I'm just jealous of my brother and his stories of what he looked up on the net while at work. I'm lucky to get 40 minutes of the day without having to merchandise, help customers, answer phones, help employees....yes, it's a bit of jealousy.

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by Booko

Maybe their afraid of lawsuits if one of their employees is a-salt-ed while on the job?

[Faint]

Let's see...the employer pays for the equipment, pays for internet access, pays you for your time there to do what they want you to do...seems to me they have every right to monitor you.