Ethics: Invading privacy

Introduction

The usage of technology in the workplace is bringing new concerns both for the employers as well as for the employees. It goes without saying that use of technology in the workplace is helpful in the reduction of operating costs as a result of the reduction of operating costs. The technology usage in the workplace ought to make things better than they are, but there has been rising concern among the employees regarding the invasion of their privacy especially when the usage of that technology interferes with their privacy. Because of that invasion the employers are having resistance to the use of technology especially when the employers use it to track them. It is because many at times there is no agreement between the employers and the employees before they can begin to use the monitoring technology as in the case study in question. The paper, however, presents reasons that support the usage of this monitoring technology in the workplace.

Pick one of the preceding cases and create an argument on behalf of the employer's use of monitoring technologies.

There are numerous reasons that they employers have for using the monitoring technology in the workplace monitor the employee behavior. Furthermore the monitoring talks for the common good of the employer and the employee. Many times in the race to solve one problem another one may arise in the process. One of the reasons why I would support the employer in the in the case study in question for using the monitoring technology is that the employer is using it as a technique for better management of the organization.  The employer uses it also to ensure there is a high-quality customer service, and that helps to ensure that the employees remain productive through the use of objective feedback (Lund, 1992). It is also worth noting that the reason for the exits since of any business is because of the presence of employees. Otherwise, a business may not be existent.

The employer wants the customers to feel that they receive satisfactory services from the organization the employer can do everything possible so as to meet the needs of customers. In that sense, the employer is also taking care of the employees because there can be no work for them to do without they clients being there. So the monitoring is also taking place to benefit the employees in another sense. When the employees are aware that there is monitoring of their work taken place, they can increase their efforts and hence improved the productivity of the organization. Studies also show that electronic monitoring can decrease downtime of employees during the workday. Monitoring can also discourage extended breaks as well as the use of company resources for personal matters.

The monitoring is also vital for employers as it gives them a clear picture of the employees that are hard working and thus productive and those that are not productive (Weckert, 2005). It is this objective feedback of employee performance that can help during the performance of appraisals, evaluation of training [performance effectiveness and determining raises as well as promotions. The employer also uses this feedback to decide on the disciplinary measures where it seems necessary. Many organizations that use objective feedback in ensuring quantitative measurements of performance are certain that they cannot have a bias in giving promotions. It is a good thing for the employer to use this monitoring technology I the workplace because the employers can see the good things and the bad ones after which he can act accordingly.

Monitoring also will help the employer to keep pace with his competitors because it is the only way that ensures that the employees perform at their optimum levels (Weckert, 2005). Monitoring is an indispensable means that the employer can use not only to enhance the productivity of employees but also to assure the quality of the productivity. The employer can use it to get vital information concerning phone calls, how long some communication took pace, and how many times an employee made certain calls.  That is helpful in ensuring that there is accountability on the side of employees and that the employees are efficient and effective in their duties (Schultz, 1994). The employer also has a right as well as a responsibility of protecting his legitimate business interests in using the monitoring technology I workplace. Monitoring will help the employer to avoid theft, increase safety, hold down costs and boost productivity.

Monitoring of worker is very helpful to the employer also because the employer can investigate industrial espionage so that he can protect his trade secrets in an effective way. If the employer cannot protect those company secrets, they not are secrets any longer, and the company is likely to lose to its competitors. Also, many employees do like using company resources to carry out unauthorized business and when the company gives them computing power they can develop essential software or even carry out their own business. The monitoring also can help in protecting the property of both the employer and employees (Tavani, 2011). When the employers have their property within the premises of the company, for instance, video surveillance can be helpful to them by ensuring that their property such as vehicles is safe.

It is good also for the employer to monitor the employees for any signs of wrongdoing because the employer is the one who will be responsible for the mistakes that the employees make in the long run. For instance, the owner of the email bears the responsibility of any email sent where it is personal or business. If an employee may be storing some pornographic materials on his/her hard drive, or in case an employee may be using some software that is not licensed; it can expose the company to copyright infringement claims (Casser, 1996). Many of the highlighted situations above do expose they employer to liability and thus calling for the need to have surveillance and protection of the company information and assets.

Conclusion

The paper presents various reasons as to why the employer in the case study provided should monitor their employees. The monitoring as highlighted in the paper is essential for both the employer and the employee. Without monitoring the employers will not be productive enough as they ought to. That is because they will use much of their time doing activities that otherwise may not be of any benefit to the company. It makes the employees responsible for their actions and that the employer is not causing to bear the consequences of irresponsible actions done using the company resources. When the employees know that their employer is monitoring them, they can tailor their efforts towards the common objective of improve the productivity of the company and increasing the company’s competitiveness.

References

Casser, K. L. (1996). Employers, employees, e-mail and the internet. The Internet and business: A lawyer's guide to the emerging legal issues. Computer Law Association, Inc.

Lund, J. (1992). Electronic performance monitoring: A review of the research issues. Applied Ergonomics, 23(1), 54--58.

Schultz, E. E. (1994). Employee beware: The boss may be listening. The Wall Street Journal.

Tavani, H. T. (2011). Ethics and technology: Controversies, questions, and strategies for ethical computing. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

Weckert, J. (2005). Electronic monitoring in the workplace: Controversies and solutions. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub.

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in assignment writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order from essay writing services.