SolveYourProblem Article Series: Internet Privacy
Is My Privacy Vulnerable To Attack?

Computer Privacy Rules At Your Job

If you think your computer is safe from the prying eyes of your company or boss, think again. Nearly 80 percent of major U.S. companies monitor their employees' Internet, e-mail, and phone usage. This is according to the findings of the New York City-based American Management Association's (AMA's) annual workplace monitoring and surveillance survey. "Privacy in the workplace is largely illusory," says Ellen Bayer, the AMA's human resources practice leader. Active monitoring has risen considerably in recent years, up from 35 percent in 1997 to 78 percent today.

In past years the increase in monitoring was related to an increase in the percentage of employees that were gaining access to email and the Internet. However, this year the average percentage of workers with an office email and Internet connections remained the same. However, monitoring of those activities went up almost 10 percent.

In a recent survey, of the 1,627 large and mid-sized firms from the manufacturing, financial services, wholesale/retail, business/professional services, general services, public administration, and nonprofit industries, 63 percent said that they monitor workers’ Internet connections, and 47 percent store and review employee email. Another 40 percent block Internet connection to unauthorized sites, or sites they deem as inappropriate. Also, 43 percent of participants monitor telephone numbers called and time spent on the phone. Another 19 percent keep track of logged computer time and 38 percent use video surveillance for security purposes. "It's not just a matter of corporate curiosity, but very real worries about productivity and liability that push these policies," says Eric Rolfe Greenberg, director of management studies for the AMA.

Some of these companies use the information they collect through these monitoring practices to discipline their employees. Not surprisingly 27 percent of these companies say they have fired employees who have been caught misusing office email or Internet connections, and 65 percent report administering some form of disciplinary measures to those who were breaking the rules. "It's important to note, however, that by far the greater share of this monitoring is performed on a spot-check basis rather than an ongoing 24-hour basis," explains Greenberg. "And, importantly, 90 percent of the companies engaging in any of these practices inform their employees that they're doing so."

This survey was done in 2001 and is called the AMA survey: Workplace Monitoring & Surveillance.

If these findings don’t scare you out of using the company computer to email your friends and family, and if you think they won’t know or aren’t watching, you may be surprised.

There are many rules to keep in mind when safeguarding your privacy at the workplace. The most important of these rules is to only use your computer and email for work related purposes to start. Not only do you not want to divulge personal information to your employers, but you also don’t want to be disciplined for using company time and resources to take care of personal matters.

Another important way to safeguard your privacy at work is to talk with your company about the security measures that they are taking to ensure that information you deem private and personal is not accessible to anyone else. For example, details of your job application or resume may be filed on a computer and accessible to different people in the company, or vulnerable to hackers. There are steps you and your employers can take to ensure that personal information is kept safe on your computer.

Most importantly is to always assume that someone is watching. As you can see from this survey, more and more workplaces are monitoring your email and Internet use and not telling you about it. You may think it is harmless and safe; however it is a huge drain on company resources and may result in your termination. Think twice before using that company computer for private use.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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