* 2005 Workplace Privacy Survey results
Because you’re the one responsible for technology implementation, IT may have to play an uncomfortable role in fulfilling corporate policy to monitor how employees are using that technology. Whether it’s Web and e-mail filtering software, keystroke monitoring or reviewing phone records, you can be assured that workers don’t want it or understand the intent.
According to the 2005 Workplace Privacy Survey, workers think management is watching over them for the wrong reasons. Conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CareerJournal.com, the study is based on responses from 336 HR pros and 520 employees.
The report notes that workers think employers monitor them to check productivity levels and job performance, and because management distrusts staff. But HR professionals note that the reason companies monitor employee behavior online is to prevent computer viruses, hackers and the like from interfering with business operations, and to protect proprietary data.
“Due to the amount of company specific information and level of dependency that most organizations have on their computer systems, it is essential that organizations take steps to monitor their networks to ensure the integrity of proprietary information and to prevent viruses and hackers from accessing the networks,” says Susan Meisinger, president and CEO of SHRM. “It is also essential that employees are made aware of this security step and the purpose of company networks and property.”
One thing both camps agree on is that companies should not read employee postal mail, listen to employee telephone conversations, and search employee desks and offices without cause. Short of that, nearly everything else is fair game, such as blocking instant messaging and employee access to personal e-mail accounts, monitoring Web sites visited and filtering incoming and outgoing email for questionable content.
