Comments on: Spying On Your Employees

By: Workplace No-No’s That Really Are Doesn’t-Matter’s | Small Hands, Big Ideas

Wed, 12 May 2010 15:11:35 +0000

[...] sort of rigid, apprehensive culture are we [...]

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:58:04 +0000

@SkinnyvSuit I agree with you. It seems so invasive and backwards really. Like others have said in the comments here, it makes sense to train your employees or maybe talk about new ideas to grow forward and instill trust versus spending so much money on equipment to spy.

I really like the idea of Koda. Thanks for passing it along, I'm going to check it out!

By: SkinnyvSuit

SkinnyvSuit — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:55:58 +0000

This is crazy. If I found out one day that the company I work for is installing a camera in my cubical I would get out. I just graduated from college but I really think it is important to find a job, especially a career, with a company that's values are aligned with my own. Company culture is so important to find out about before you choose a career. GenY's typically change a career several times with in their twenties, and I have a feeling it is because things like video surveillance in their cubical or just hating the company culture. I found this start-up "social recruiting" website http://koda.us where companies on the site create profiles that go beyond the details of a company website and trade magazine to describe what the company is really like to work for. Also they have current employees tab so that you can see the types of people you will be eventually working with. I feel like tools like KODA can really help job seekers find a place they can feel comfortable working for. I also think tools like KODA are so relevant because I think if you hate the culture and the people you work with, no matter what your job tile or description is that job is going to be miserable for you.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:58:04 +0000

I really like the idea of Koda. Thanks for passing it along, I'm going to check it out!

By: SkinnyvSuit

SkinnyvSuit — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:55:58 +0000

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:20:32 +0000

@Jim My friend doesn't directly know their reasoning as I too, was curious. She said some of the VP's won't be around the office as much and they want to still “feel like they're around,” to monitor, etc. I don't think it's a very compelling reason because like everyone else said, goals and performance can tell you a lot about someone's success not nit picking their every move on their computer.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:39:32 +0000

I'd be interested in learning how the company went about making this decision. Outside of an employee theft problem or for security purposes (e.g. bank teller), I can't think of any way that this could be positive for employee morale. Like you said, today's employees want to work in a supportive, creative environment; promoting a culture of mistrust is not the way to achieve this.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:57:41 +0000

@Brett The internet definitely is a distraction. But if the internet weren't there, maybe there would be another kind of distraction or reason to procrastinate. However, I'm with you about working with a company that is creating, engaging and has mutual trust.

By: Brett Borders

Brett Borders — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:40:42 +0000

The internet can be a big distraction. I understand why some employers trying to monitor what people do – because the Web and social media can be used just as much like TV as it can be used as a work tool.

However, I definitely wouldn't want to work at a company that had a culture of survellience. I would want to work somewhere with creative, engaging work and an atmosphere of mutual trust.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:59:16 +0000

@Ted You're right and thanks for sharing that view point!