Analysis of Issue
"Employees should expect no privacy while on the job, even when engaging in personal communication via telephone or e-mail. Employers are paying for their employees' time and have a reasonable expectation that this time is spent solely on work-related activities."
At first glance, the speaker's statement that employees should not use the office time and resources for their personal use, and thus expect no privacy while on job looks reasonable. Any employer would want to utilize its resources in the best way. But, in my opinion, avoiding imposition of such restrictions is in the best interest of both the employees and the company.
I concede that no employer would tolerate the misuse of its resources at any cost. While on job, the employees are paid to spend time only on the work related activities and not for solving their personal issues. But I do not agree that the employers should impose restrictions on the employees. Instead, the employer should expect the employees to be responsible for their time. The employer should assume that the employees are matured enough to understand their responsibilities. As long as the employees are able to finish the tasks on time without compromising with the quality, the employer should not have any problems. It is alright to issue guidelines on the use of the official resources, but I don't think the employer should keep an eye on the use of resources by the employees and impose restrictions.
Further, by expecting the employees to be responsible, the employer can show its trusts towards the employees. This trust can improve the work environment and add to the job satisfaction of the employees. The employees will pay back for this trust by showing more commitment to the job.
Finally, lack of privacy in the office can have bad effect on the productivity of the employee and hence the company. For example: an employee may have to take care of an urgent issue, say by making a phone call. If not allowed to do so in the office, the employee may find it hard to concentrate on the job, or he may commit some silly mistakes which may have a bad impact on the company. Offering him some privacy to quickly sort out his problem will make him utilize the rest of the time productively.
In sum, while it is right on the employer's part to expect the best utilization of the company's money and other resources, the employers should expect the employees to be responsible. Monitoring and restricting personal activities of the employees should come into picture only when such activities are coming in the way of the company's success.
"Employees should expect no privacy while on the job, even when engaging in personal communication via telephone or e-mail. Employers are paying for their employees' time and have a reasonable expectation that this time is spent solely on work-related activities."
At first glance, the speaker's statement that employees should not use the office time and resources for their personal use, and thus expect no privacy while on job looks reasonable. Any employer would want to utilize its resources in the best way. But, in my opinion, avoiding imposition of such restrictions is in the best interest of both the employees and the company.
I concede that no employer would tolerate the misuse of its resources at any cost. While on job, the employees are paid to spend time only on the work related activities and not for solving their personal issues. But I do not agree that the employers should impose restrictions on the employees. Instead, the employer should expect the employees to be responsible for their time. The employer should assume that the employees are matured enough to understand their responsibilities. As long as the employees are able to finish the tasks on time without compromising with the quality, the employer should not have any problems. It is alright to issue guidelines on the use of the official resources, but I don't think the employer should keep an eye on the use of resources by the employees and impose restrictions.
Further, by expecting the employees to be responsible, the employer can show its trusts towards the employees. This trust can improve the work environment and add to the job satisfaction of the employees. The employees will pay back for this trust by showing more commitment to the job.
Finally, lack of privacy in the office can have bad effect on the productivity of the employee and hence the company. For example: an employee may have to take care of an urgent issue, say by making a phone call. If not allowed to do so in the office, the employee may find it hard to concentrate on the job, or he may commit some silly mistakes which may have a bad impact on the company. Offering him some privacy to quickly sort out his problem will make him utilize the rest of the time productively.
In sum, while it is right on the employer's part to expect the best utilization of the company's money and other resources, the employers should expect the employees to be responsible. Monitoring and restricting personal activities of the employees should come into picture only when such activities are coming in the way of the company's success.
