Articles - Employee / Labor Relations

Watching Good Morning America is often a great way to wake up in the AM.. especially when one hears the lead-in on an excerpt that you knew you Just HAD to watch - "Everything You Need to Know About Office Spying"  which mentioned that the MAJORITY of Bosses are Spying on Your Electronic behavior at work - The info can be found on their site at (GMA)

That seems a lot, are their numbers right? Are 9 out of 10 Employers REALLY watching the way you used the internet? Good grief— well okay, smart bosses, watching their investment, making sure that they are paying you to work, and not waste their dime and time, but, really, that many.. and what about my privacy?? This really isn't legal?? Surely I have some rights?

And do they actually have the right to spy at work and right to fire should they choose?— Yep it is legal...

With the lead in from their own story on Good Morning America, here is some very important information many may not be aware of —

"Last week, new federal rules went into effect that require U.S. companies to keep track of all the e-mails, instant messages and other electronic documents generated by their employees. According to a survey by the e-Policy Institute, 9 out of 10 employers already observe employee electronic behavior in some way." 

On the flip side, with employees cracking down on usage of their employees being on the internet on their time and their dime.. And could this affect the way we recruit or how someone finds a job in the future?

So what are the real numbers? and were GMA's data really on the mark, are there that many bosses really watching?.. is "my boss" really able to see what I do on the internet live on their computer monitor, in another room.. Without me even knowing? Nerve racking, isn't it.

There is a lot of data on the net as this is a really hot topic today.. Even Forbes had a recent article titled- Five Ways How To (Legally) Spy On Employees, finding information was not challenging.

So here are some interesting Facts-

As much as 92 Percent of employers will monitor your e-mail, record your conversations, video tape your moves in the office, search through your computer files, monitor your computer strokes, read all of your email, track your location via your cel phone or security badge or both – and even know that you are reading this article right now..

The American Management Association (AMA) conducted such a study, entitled the
"2005 Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Survey". http://www.amanet.org/press/amanews/ems05.htm

• 65% block access to specific sites, up from 27 percent in 2001
• 76% monitor Website visits
• 55% retain and review email messages
• 50% monitor computer files
• 35% track the content, keystrokes and time spent at the keyboard
• 92% of employers deny employee workplace privacy rights through electronic surveillance of some sort.
• 57% of employers block access to 900 lines and other unauthorized phone numbers
• 19% tape the calls of employees in selected job categories, and another 3% record and review all employees’ phone chat.
• 6% of companies have fired employees for misusing office phones, and another 22% have issued formal reprimands to those who abuse phone privileges

The state workplace privacy rights laws are few and far apart, and they are more in favor of the Employer. On the most part they basically require that the employer tell the employees of the electronic surveillance.. of course there are areas that are off limits – like bathrooms, changing rooms, etc.. and of course it does depend on the State you live in. That new law that got passed, well I wonder does it give them more freedom?

Okay, this is legal, and sure I can understand wanting to monitor your investment Mr/Ms. Employer; But with Employer Spying on the rise, well when does it go too far? When does it cross over into snooping? Voyeurism? Just doing it for the Fun of it, rather than business as usual? As in the case Starwood Hotels and Resorts VS Mendoza - where the hotel was ordered to pay $3Million for spying on their employee.

It becomes more of a concern when one acknowledged  how cost effective technology in today’s world.. even with standard remote desktop which can be found on standard Operating systems.  I can see my other computer in another room, on the intranet, and set it up where the third party  would NOT be aware that their boss is spying on them,  or to what extent.

With all that in mind, it makes one also question, how safe are those candidates when we send them e-mails at work, call them on the job, and ask them to send the resume. Here is something that really jumps out as well, with more and more companies jumping on this bandwagon is it possible that we will see less internet activity from employees on the net? Will companies start monitoring their employees’ blogs, their Social Network Activity. For Example Tek Systems versus one of their employees - TekSystems is  alleging that a former employee wrongfully contacted former clients and co-workers—and more unusually, that her LinkedIn page could prove it.

Definitely something to think about when writing exchanging that inter office banter with your best friend. What you may think as harmless may be something Your boss may consider a concern. Listen to Jim and I discuss Workplace Rumors and the Hooksett 4

It may be a good idea to keep personal comments, personal shopping and personal activities to your home computer.

Also visit  American Management Association for  their 2006 Survey on this topic  - and information regarding their 2007 Survey

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ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP

Karen Mattonen started a career in Human Resources when she served as a Recruiter for Snelling Corporation. Leveraging her tenure with Snelling, Karen founded Advanced Career Solutions in 1997 focusing on the  HVAC and Mechanical Construction industry. Her reputation for excellence is echoed in the satisfaction of clients and candidates she has serviced nationwide. Furthermore, Karen is esteemed for sharing her expertise in Recruitment Education, Ethics and promoting self-regulation for the Recruiting industry.

She has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.

Outside of the HR community, Karen Mattonen has been cited by Microsoft as a resource in how to use Microsoft Outlook as an ATS. She has also served as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the 3^rd largest city in Utah.

Her passionate and tireless advocacy has led her to create HireCentrix - The Pulse of H.R, Regulation, Retention, Recruiting and Risk Management www.hirecentrix.com.  Hirecentrix is a company dedicated to providing training to the HR, recruiting and staffing industries, which includes a special focus on the ethical and legal dimensions through offering a full service resource for individuals to share and communicate, obtain current and accurate information, acquire and provide education and learning within the quickly expanding, diverse and rapidly changing Recruiting and Human Resource climate.

Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)

Click here to reach Karen via email.

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