Reflections:
It’s incredible what you can do now days, I must say. Having said that, I have to point out that that is all there is to it. I don’t think that employers should have the right to interfere with their employees’ private lives. On the other hand, I do think that a company should have the right to gain access to certain private files if it is evident that someone is spreading information about company secrets. I also think that a company should be allowed to check what the employees are doing at their computers if there is a suspicion that working hours are spent doing hobby things. In both cases above, the act of the employee is directly linked to the loss of money for the company. Other things, like tracking the movement of employees or checking what they are writing about the boss, is just paranoia. It’s just normal to gossip or maybe say one or two things about the stupidity of your boss in an email to a friend if you are angry about something that haven’t been dealt with right in your opinion.
Hi Stina,
SvaraRaderaI partially agree with you, i also think that companies should be able to access some private files/information about their workers like, criminal record etc. But i do not think that it is required for the employees to be watched all the time. I think that it is the employers fault in the first place, they should not hire a person that seems laid back because that person will most surely be the one not working.
/Stefan
I get the feeling that you overall have the same opinion like me in this question. That its OK if the boss uses aids to see if the staff uses their computer or phones etc. to waste company time or company money.
SvaraRaderaBut that it´s too much if the boss survey every word write about them ore every step they take.
You also leave some interesting questions that I guess no one can answer.
“…but if you break the rules set up for you at work, you will have to face the consequences of an investigation.”
If the rules are that you´re never allowed to use the company’s phone to their calls then strictly business, that you aren´t allowed to write any negative about the boss regardless how much he suffers from paranoia. And where should the line is to be drawn? When can there be a “investigation” and should the worker be pre-warned?
As I said, there are many interesting questions hiding in your text, and that makes it interesting.
I find your blog really easy to read and I can´t say I find something wrong about the grammar, linguistic, spelling etc.
I really like your reflections and I totally agree. But I have one question: How does the boss know who is breaking the rules if the boss is not allowed to spy on his employees? I do not have a good answer to this.
SvaraRaderaIt is only acceptable for the boss to spy if he in advance has informed the employees. I also think that the employees have to confirm that it is acceptable. The boss is of course allowed to control the employees mail if there is a suspicion of crime but not otherwise.
/ Hanna Tunander