1. Presented by Beang Tong ENGL393, Spring’03
“How Technology Is Changing Privacy Issues in the Workplace” -By Julie Cook
Presented by Beang Tong
ENGL393, Spring’03

2. Introduction How the technology is changing
The idea of a government spying is nothing new
The technology has made the intrusions much easier and more ubiquitous
Spying is a lot easier than it used to be:
An employer had to hire a private investigator for eavesdropping on employee’s phone call
Employer can eavesdrop just with the push of a button on the phone

3. Introduction (cont.)
The number of employees subject to some form of surveillance in the workplace has been increased from 8 million to 30 million Americans on surveillance within 1991 and 1999

4. Yes, you are being watched!
More than 89 percent of Americans fear being watched in their workplace
35 percent of companies monitor their employees during working hours
More employers are using devices of reviewing, videotaping, or eavesdropping on their workplace
There is no federal law designed to protect their employees’ privacy while at work

5. No legal precedence…yet
Companies are hesitant to monitor employees in workplace because of the fear of lawsuits and employment law revolution
A company has to consult with a lawyer on some policy or method of surveillance
Monitoring polices are useful in different situation:
To be clear about the use and misuse of company property
To inspect and monitor as needed when employees are using company property

6. The obvious, up-front approach
Avoid lawsuits by taking the hidden surveillance approach to employee monitoring
Guess Inc. has videotaped actions of the company employees for more than five years
The cameras were put into place to prevent, but are useful in many ways
Provide more protection or safety in employees environment
Discover worker’s compensation fraud
Catch employees using illegal substances on their lunch hour

7. Caught in the act
Lessened the percentage of employees committing worker’s compensation fraud
Guess Inc. has saved approximately $20 million in worker’s compensation claims
Decreased workplace theft
Improved safety record
Employer should wait until a situation arises to monitor employees actions rather than having surveillance devises permanently in place

8. The security check is in the mail
62 percent of companies prepare written polices
83 percent of those written polices prohibit sexual or other inappropriate s
67 percent defined disciplinary procedures for those who disregard policy guidelines
More companies may develop written polices, but without controls in place to monitor or screen the s going or out, policies are still worthless

9. A warning that works
Notify employees that they are not allowed to send personal by using company resources during business time
A Premium Financing Specialists in Kansas city, Missouri, was sending 50 to 70 personal messages every Friday afternoon
Employees were told not to get mail from their friends or communicate with their parents
Get your own Internet account at home!

10. Conclusion
I prefer companies using videotaping or monitoring employees at workplace.

11. The end