what would you do?

Question

started with a company approx 18 months ago as a sales rep. since starting i've found out that all my office calls are recorded "for training purposes" also think my e-mails are filtered as simple ones to home saying hi etc.. take hours to arrive? i have to divert my mobile when in the office to the main line (so they are also recorded) and my boss has just told me that they are fitting trackers to all the company vehicles so they know where we are at any given time?

i'm in a job where i'm expected to be trusted but feel like i constantly being checked on?

not doing anything wrong but not happy about the big brother approach.

should i stay or go and if i go what should i tell them my reasons are? at the end of the day it's their company and their cars / staff to check on so they can do what they want... just not happy about it.

what would you do

Answer 1

Well it sounds like you need to let go of this "Big Brother" company you're in.

If you decide to leave, you don't really need to tell them the reason, but if you're feeling honest, tell them you don't like the feeling of your privacy being invaded.

Answer 2

Well, I would have thought that the employers would have disclosed all of this to you at the time of hire. Irrespective, you have to decide how much this bothers you and weigh that against your financial and career needs. If it bothers you so much that you want to leave, don't leave until you have another job already.

Also, must you put your cell on their main line? Are you paying for the phone? If so, that is an invasion of privacy and I just would not do it--return personal calls after the business day is through. Business calls should come in on a different line. If the company expects you to foot the bill for a cell, get a separate one for business calls.

Personally, I would find so much monitoring distressing and I would be looking for better opportunities. If I did not leave, I would find ways around the monitoring of my personal business, like the separate cell for personal business; handle personal e-mail from home only and have separate e-mail accounts for business and personal stuff; and lastly, reread everything sent via e-mail before sending it out--vent to your colleagues over lunch at the diner when you're not being monitored. Geesh!

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In terms of whether to let them know that the monitoring bothers you, I say go for it at the exit interview, but keep it professional: saying things like, "I respect your decision to run the business in the way you deem most profitable, but this particular decision makes me uneasy. I would simply feel more comfortable in a different environment. So sorry this was not a good fit afterall. I am disappointed."

All the best to you.

Answer 3

Let's simplify this one right off quick. This is all about you, and you do not like the arrangement one little bit. It is time for you to leave that company in the dust. And the quicker you can manage to do it, the better. If it is a matter of where to go instead, that will take time to prepare. Job security may also slow you down, as you probably have decent insurance and health coverage? But, deep down, you are probably fed up and have left already in your mind. No one likes to be spied upon. They had security cameras where I used to volunteer. Nobody said anything and neither did I, but when I stopped volunteering there, about a week later, I was feeling much better, and more like myself, and it was because I was away from all those cameras. I think you are fed up, and want to move on to something without all that watching-you junk. I would encourage you to stay with and follow that instinct. What perks and pleasures you may need to reinstate will be easy, compared to dealing with those feelings inside toward what you have now. It's put up, or leave and make better. Wish it were a little easier, but it really is that simple. Best to you, always. - C.

Answer 4

Leave the job and get another one or confront the company about it's policies. This may lose you the job in the short term but it'll put you on a better path to personal satisfaction in the long term. This is an appalling abuse of your civil liberties, particularly the 'diverting your mobile to company main line', what exactly has your personal phone got to do with their company? If they don't trust you they shouldn't have hired you in the first place. If you have done something to make them mistrust you they should give you fair warning.

Answer 5

Well many people are going to tell you "If you aren't doing anything wrong what do you have to worry about?" Buuuuuut I feel like if a company hires you there should be some trust to the employee but also measures that ensure that people are behaving properly. I think your company is probably ahead of the times and many companies are headed this way. Montoring employess, I think is sad.:( I personally would quit if you feel work is that big of an envasion.

Answer 6

It would seem you are employed by a very efficient company - what is wrong with that. If you are not happy working for the company then leave and if it suits you tell them the reason. Would you expect your next employer to just hope the staff is trustworthy and able to work without form of supervision.

Answer 7

since you're not doing anything wrong or intend to do anything wrong then stay.
you've nothing to fear.
anyway....cctv is everywhere these days and we all know to be careful with office email.
personally id keep my head down, work away until i felt like i was good to move on to another less monitored place and then leave with a good reference and good prospects.
the cost of losing an employee and going through the whole recruitment thing should be punishment enough.
you can tell everyone outside of work what a bunch of wnkers they are, just dont put a dent in your shiny shiny c.v .


or just make all calls outside of the office, buy a pda and send your emails from that. i suppose they have a right to know where their cars are (and it keeps you safer).

Answer 8

Well if they've fitted a tracker device on the car, call in sick one day, and drive round to the managing director's house, and park up. Stay there and hour or so.

Do this around 5 times, and he, being at work probably, will think you're having an affair with his wife he he he

Answer 9

Sounds like you want to go but are afraid of their chastisement...and w/ good reason it seems...sounds like your in some kind of hell brother...almost on the virge of tears......but ya know what?..your free to go where you want and do whatever the hel you like and you don't owe them any explanation...tell them if they don't like it they can contact your attorney...drop his card on their table at that point if they push it...but you don't owe them nothing...they can't make you stay...I would imagine by the time you've read this you would have already made your mind up...there's people like this everywhere these days...try to find good people to work w/...it's just as important as how much you get paid...if not more...hel tell em you don't like someone looking over your shoulder all the time...tell em you'll find a company that trusts it's employees...the company I work for doesn't watch every move I make...so don't let them tell you that all companies/corps do this....tell em you don't want to argue the point and hand them your written resignation and walk out...you are under distress so I wouldn't suggest giving the customary 2 week notice...hel just call em up instead of going in tomorrow and tell them just what i told you...tell them to go to hell....good luck friend...

Answer 10

I guess it's a matter of priorities. You have principles. But you also need money to survive. You have to determine if your desire for the money outweighs your need to preserve your principles. If it was me, and I was doing nothing wrong, and there were clear reasons why the company needed to monitor their employees and such so closely, and of course the pay was good, which I have no doubt is true, then I really wouldn't consider working there a breach of my principles. It is the company's prerogative to monitor the activities of its employees. That's the bottom line. I'd have to have another job lined up before I hopped out on good money for that simple reason.

Answer 11

Forget all the "details" surrounding the job. These are horrifying, demeaning, useless, and insulting. Of course you are not trusted--you are a cog in their machine. ALL jobs are like this now, though, and it's very sad.
Think about the MONEY---it is the only reason for being there.