Question

• Should companies be able to monitor their employees' computer usage?

• Is there a reasonable amount of time that employees can use their work computers for personal usage?

• What behaviors would be considered unethical use of a company computer?

• Explore other ways that computers are used to support ethical conduct.

A paragraph for each explaining your reasons.

Answer 1

Companies can monitor their employees' computer usage Employers generally can monitor the employee's computer usage legally Employers are able to monitor what is on the screen or stored in the employees' computer terminals and hard disks using software tools and cameras installed. • Employers can keep track of the amount of time an employee spends away from the computer or idle time at the computer by installing a software which tracks the start time of work , end time of work and the idle time by locking the system while idle for some period • Keystroke monitoring tell an employer how many keystrokes per hour each employee is performing Is there a reasonable amount of time that employees can use their work computers for personal usage? Definitely not. Employees are assigned tasks with an estimation of hours using an online project management tool. Employees can use some specific terminal or system during lunch time or before or after office hours for a specific period of time in a first come first serve basis in a library room or in relax room mostly

What behaviors would be considered unethical use of a company computer? • Employee stealing the company's intellectual property from the computer or server she is assigned to use is unethical and illegal If an employee uses the company internet to do online shopping for personal reasons it is unethical immoral It is unethical to waste company time without completing the tasks in time due to these kinds of personal activities. It is totally unethical if an employee user the company computer for doing any personal activities such as online shopping , fund transfer using banking websites, online mobile bill payments or online electricity bill payments or insurance premium payments etc Installing pirated software in the office computer is unethical

Exploration of other ways that computers are used to support ethical conduct as below comply with the rules and regulations of the company in using their computer and law of the land where the employee works, complying with government rules in using a computer and internet legally and ethically • Use computers or servers for which the employers are authorized to use • Use licenced software and avoid pirated software • Install anti virus software and update it regularly whenever you receive update notifications • Update software installed regularly whenever the updates are recommended • Use computers for official purposes which the employer is assigned and authorized to do Avoid downloads which not authorized • If any download needed for the company work , Place a request with the system administrator of the company or any higher reporting authority and get approval • Do not use company computer for any personal acitvities Company can use software tools or technologies to monitor and ensure that the employees comply with the stipulated ethical code of conduct Companies can install cameras to monitor employees in work location only ,BUT NOT IN their private rooms such as restrooms