Most of us have heard that about one-third of employers monitor their employees' e-mail and/or Internet sessions, as was discussed in a 2001 report entitled, " The Extent of Systematic Monitoring of Employee E-mail and Internet Use " published by the Workplace Surveillance Project. But what happens when an employer finds out about personal or otherwise unauthorized use of e-mail or other computing resources?
Here's a case in point from a government employee who wrote to me recently, which I have paraphrased below.
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My employer has policies that make no sense. One cannot use 'public' resources for any personal use. For example, my wife can call me on the phone and leave a message, but if I return her call I'm in violation of my employer's policies. My son or another family member can send me a screensaver or a greeting card, but I'm in violation if I open it.
I was caught having a Christmas greeting screensaver my family had sent me on my computer at work. An investigation was started, and every one of my e-mails and Internet sessions was delivered to my manager. While no improper material was found, my manager discovered that I had inquired about digital cameras for personal use. My defense was that I was new to the organization and my former employer encouraged employees to use the Internet and e-mail as a learning exercise.
The result of this infraction was that my rank was reduced by one grade, my salary was reduced for three months, and I am on probation for three years. Further, I am now recognized as a 'trouble' employee, I must remain with my current manager until I retire, there will be no chance for advancement because of the stigma of being a problem employee and because other managers don't want to take the risk of hiring such an employee, and my manager now micromanages me. Prior to my infraction, my record was clean. It is like I have leprosy.
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I'd like to get your thoughts on the experience of this employee - is this typical of employers in general, is it typical only in government, or is it just an extremely rare example of management overreaction to personal use of e-mail and the Internet? Please drop me a line at michael@ostermanresearch.com
RELATED LINKS
Microsoft talks up universal data system
Network World, 04/15/02
Michael D. Osterman is the principal of Osterman Research, a market research firm that helps organizations understand the markets for messaging, directory and related products and services. He can be reached by clicking here.
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