Question

Some companies resort to questionable means to enforce computer use policies. They use surveillance software to monitor employees’ IT use. Every activity on the employee’s computer is simultaneously tracked and recorded. Everything that the employee sees on their monitor can also be seen on the monitor of the person tracking them. The same software is used to monitor children’s online activities and monitor spouses suspected of infidelity. Should employees be treated as undisciplined children or cheating spouses? Should employers not have the right to monitor what’s done with their equipment especially on paid time

Answer 1

Monitoring what is being done during the work time by an employer does not mean the employees are treated badly. It is the devices of the company and work for which the employees are being paid for that are being monitored and not the personal devices of the employees and it is duty time and not personal time. Hence employers have the right to monitor what work is being done and how the performance of he employees is during the working hours and it does not mean they are treating the employees as undisciplined children or cheating spouses.