Entry # 17

Employee monitoring is now widely practiced. Employees are no longer monitored based on attendance alone – most of the time, even their computer use is monitored if not limited. And let’s be real: there’s nothing wrong with that. Managers do this simply because they want to promote a conducive work environment. Aside from that, computer monitoring is done so that productivity is increased and it can also help in avoiding unwanted identity thieves (ex: if an employee accidentally opens an e-mail that contains a virus that can hack the company’s system, etc.). But of course, it doesn’t mean that sites such as social media sites, blogs and the likes should be blocked. Personally, I’d rather allot time for the computer for personal use as a form of break/relief for the employees instead off completely not allowing them to utilize their computers other than for work-related use.  

I understand the frustration of the employee in the decision point regarding the Reasonable Use of Company Technology. After all, I am a student in DLSU and I have had laboratory professors who do not allow the use of social media during their class. It is understandable because it really is a distraction for students like us. However, I don’t think this will work for employees who have the standard office work routine (5 days a week, 8AM-5PM) simply because they spend longer hours using their company computers and it can get very redundant for them. In business, it is always important to care about your employees’ well-being; and if caring for their well-being mean giving them time to use technology to relieve them of their stress, then why not give it to them? After all, without them, your business operations will be nonexistent in the first place.

I know many people are against monitoring technology use because in a way, it violates their privacy. Companies are able to monitor the e-mails you’ve sent or the sites you’ve opened. However, this shouldn’t be an issue if you know that what you’re doing doesn’t collide with the company values and policies. Another important thing that should be considered is that every information that has been gathered must be kept confidential. If ever information is leaked, the people responsible for monitoring must be given sanction. That, in a way, makes the whole technology use monitoring fair, in my opinion.