Let's face it. Monitoring employees' e-mail, tracking their Internet use, logging everything done at keyboards has become the norm in Corporate America.
With computer monitoring software so cheap and easy-to-apply it's no wonder that workplace surveillance becomes more and more widespread.
Here are some figures from the 2005 Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Survey made by American Management Association and the consulting firm ePolicy Institute:
76% of companies monitor websites their employees visit, and 65% use software to block connections to certain websites.
36% use software to log keystrokes and keep track of the time spent at keyboards. 50% store and review computer files.
55% store and review employees' email messages.
So, wherever you work, the odds of your company's keeping a keen technology-aided eye on you are pretty high. There is no such thing as privacy at the workplace, experts say. Let's not have any illusions about it. Even if you are allowed to use workplace computer at lunchtime or after work, the policy covering the use of computers and the Internet applies as well.
According to the same study, 84% companies surveyed do have rules covering personal use of email, 81% have established policies governing the Internet use. So, majority of organizations at least have set up rules for everybody to observe.
80% of organizations that monitor keystrokes and time spent at keyboards let employees know about that. 86% notify staff about email monitoring, and 89% alert workers that their Web activities are tracked. These figures show that for vast majority of employers the aim is to make workforce to comply with the rules rather than to catch somebody red-handed. The remaining 20%, 16% and 11% probably carry out clandestine monitoring. Too bad, but there is little employees can do in most such cases.
It seems odd, but under the law, in many states employers aren't obliged to warn employees about computer and /or email monitoring. We may grumble it's not fair, we might protest, but that's that. At least in the vast majority of organizations monitoring is not surreptitious.
If the rules are set, the only option is to conform to them. And try not to take offense, though it is not easy. Though employers sometimes are carrying it too far, in most cases they aren't doing it out of pure malice. Company owners are protecting themselves from reputation-damaging scandals, costly workplace harassment lawsuits and data leakage.
Employers are expected to protect employees from hostility at workplaces, and they monitor, say, email messages to spot those who are sending obscene or hateful emails. Software for email monitoring costs far less than a single compensation payment in case the victim sues the firm. Lots of companies can't afford litigation; those who can, don't want it.
Even logging every keystroke can be justified if the employees are dealing with trade secrets or some other highly valuable (in a direct sense of this word) information. It doesn't necessarily imply distrust -- some companies just won't survive if some confidential information is lost.
If the employer doesn't allow staff to surf a bit during lunch breaks, it doesn't at all mean the boss is a petty tyrant or just greedy. There is another reason for these restrictions.
Unrestricted Web surfing from workplace computers leads to corporate PCs swarming with malicious software. In fact, lots of these computers already are choke full of various unwanted programs, some of them extremely dangerous.
Last October, America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance examined the computers of 329 randomly selected Internet users and found that 85 percent of them contained some form of spyware. The average "infected" computer had more than 90 spyware and adware programs.
The State of Spyware Report, made by Webroot Software released on May 3, says:
During Q1, 2005, 87% of scans made with Webroot's SpyAudit software found some form of unwanted program (Trojan, system monitor, cookie or adware) on corporate PCs.
Excluding cookies, which are not such a serious problem as key logger programs or Trojan horses, more than 55% of corporate PCs contained unwanted programs. There were an average of 7.2 non-cookie infections per PC.
Now consider the fact that no single anti-virus or anti-spyware product protects against all the crap that might land in workplace computers. You are lucky if it's just irritating adware. But in case of programs capable of stealing information, like keyloggers or keylogging-containing Trojans, a single "overlooked" program may mean lost valuable data.
Of course, no regulation is perfect. Everywhere where there are rules, policies and regulations there is always room for abuse or misunderstanding. It seems that the human factor is the weakest link here.
Ancient Romans used to say "Dura lex sed lex" (the law is harsh but it is a law). Present-day computerized workforce can paraphrase it "the policy is strict but it's a policy".
Alexandra Gamanenko currently works at Raytown Corporation, LLC -- an independent software developing company that provides various solutions for information security. Learn more -- visit the company's website http://www.softsecurity.com
Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the... Read More
The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely... Read More
Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan... Read More
In many countries around the globe, people are born into... Read More
These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More
Millions of Un-Sung Heroes are born every minute! They are... Read More
The right certification trainingTrainings vary a lot when it comes... Read More
In my career advising practice, I often find that my... Read More
There are many free job search resources available in any... Read More
I was asked last week for an article about employment,... Read More
Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Green trees. Colorful flowers. It's springtime!... Read More
Many people turn a beloved hobby into a vocation. They... Read More
After days, weeks, months or longer of interviewing, you have... Read More
Just about every month, there's a new research report detailing... Read More
Your mouth is dry, your palms are sweaty, your heart... Read More
The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact... Read More
A student loan helps you get through college. Then you... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I hated my... Read More
The success of any business or organization depends largely on... Read More
Starting a new job can feel like moving to a... Read More
Common sense appears to be a rare commodity these days.... Read More
How will you respond when you're asked the following two... Read More
Let me ask you a question: are you tired of... Read More
Is your current or most recent job truly what you... Read More
Step One - Plan:Most people spend more time planning a... Read More
Since the world started hair has been a very important... Read More
WARNING: This article is likely to make you mad.In fact,... Read More
Building and expanding a business is a difficult task, when... Read More
Perhaps you saw it coming. The fall in company stock... Read More
"Stop being such a Pollyanna," a trusted, more experienced colleague... Read More
Steve's a pretty regular guy ? wife, 4 kids in... Read More
Question: How do I market myself online?Answer: With a stellar... Read More
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how... Read More
Older job hunters fear interviews where their age cannot be... Read More
Are you looking to hire the best talent? Are you... Read More
Jobs and employment on the Costa BlancaThe Council of Europe... Read More
The fundamental rule is: if you are going to apply... Read More
With the opening of a new venture and numerous reporters... Read More
Are you a career changer? Or, are you satisfied with... Read More
Don't start off your job search with one (or more)... Read More
(excerpted from The Weekend Seminar - Skills for the 21st... Read More
In this ever changing world, we need to think out... Read More
When you hear the word "networking", what comes to your... Read More
Good News for Employers wishing to change the terms of... Read More
If you've chosen a business career, you will inevitably experience... Read More
You've taken the police officer selection test or law enforcement... Read More
One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More
The economy is picking up, budgets are new, positions are... Read More
Not everyone is cut out to be a mortgage processor.... Read More
Are you one of the thousands of job seekers who... Read More
1.0 A timely reminderIn a recent decision in a New... Read More
Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost... Read More
There was a time when accounting was the boring college... Read More
Everyone dreams of a life full of love and adventure.... Read More
Freshly qualified accounting graduates when asked by the interviewer "Are... Read More
Do you feel like one in a million at work... Read More
Sometimes a hiring process will include having lunch with the... Read More
I have to admit that I'm starting to slow down... Read More
To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge... Read More
Family is the driving force of our lives. You need... Read More
As a human resources professional or business owner, you face... Read More
"You don't have to take life the way it comes... Read More
Despite what some job seekers think, it is not illegal... Read More
Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also... Read More
This article is based on the following book:How... Read More
There are many reasons why you could be in the... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |