Employee Monitoring

I have read that some companies don't allow employees on the Internet at all.

Legally, I have pre-paid legal for my biz. I can call them to ask questions about the legality of things, like you asked.

Websense is most likely your best bet, but I don't recall how much money it costs. It is very effective for blocking "Category" based websites... Adult, Spyware, etc.

Zallorish,

You ask a very interesting questions that my business is VERY versed in. Can you monitor your employees activites... the answer "Yes, but."

Ok here is the deal. To legally monitor employees you have to do a few things. First off, does your company have a written and signed "computer use policy"? This policy states that the user agrees to your rules, knows what they can and can not do, and understands that you maybe monitoring their activites.

If you are using Microsoft windows based computers (or really any computer system), you should have a log-on banner that has a legal disclaimer, you are being monitored, blah blah blah... Once those two things are in place... monitor away.

Now that you are monitoring here is the next bit o' information. You have to monitor everyone the same way unless you have reason to monitor one specific user. You can not single someone out for monitoring just because you have a hunch about this person. If you do single someone out, it is discrimination and then you have a wrongful termination lawsuit on your hands. If you read one employee's email, you better read everyone's email. If you are tipped off about someone or see something unusual on a log file, then you can single them out.

There are hundreds of ways to monitor employees actions. All of them are fine as long as you notify your employees that they are being monitored and as long as you monitor everyone the same way. Key Issues!!!

Re: Employee Monitoring

Thanks OhioDave this is great information, I wish I had this information at my former firm because they monitored our activity and they had no formal policy

Re: Employee Monitoring

I did not realize there was so much you had to do prior to beginning to monitor employees thanks for the post

Re: Employee Monitoring

he server logs is good as far as it goes, but it takes a lot of work and interpretation to go through the logs ( which can be very large) to search for employee misconduct. There is software available that will give you detailed monitoring including screen snapshots, files accessed or transferred, web sites visited basically everything that happens on the computer. The industry leader in this type of software is a company called SpectorSoft. They make monitoring software for home or business use. They have two business products, Spector CNE and Spector 360 that will give you complete control of your workplace.
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Re: Employee Monitoring

It depends the local law,however we've used employee monitoring software in our IT department.It's necessary.what's more,we inform the staff about the software before they use the computers.The software,Imonitor,can record all the activities of staff online during working hours,with monitoring and restricting usage function.Not bad,you can try.Besides,SentryPC parental control software is also a smart choice.It can be used for both home and office.

Re: Employee Monitoring

About the law: you really need to consult your local legislation. I think it might be interesting for you to read thie article: http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5615878.html?tag=content;leftCol
Usually employers have their rights to monitor their equipment usage. But there could be issues.

About the software: try WorkTime employee monitoring software

Re: Employee Monitoring

For preventing data leakage and improve employee productivity, employee monitoring software is allowed. In our company, we deployed SurveilStar Employee Monitoring Software to check what websites our staff visited. We also use it to block social networking sites, online g***s, YouTube, etc. You know, this may distract their attention and make their work efficiency low. You can also set what websites they can or can't visit.

Re: Employee Monitoring

If topic is still actuall - in our company wa are using ActyMac Dutywatch. It's internet and programm activity monitor.

Re: Employee Monitoring

I did not recognize there was a lot you had to do prior to beginning to monitor employees thanks for the post

Re: Employee Monitoring

Websense is most likely your best bet, but I don't recall how much money it costs. It is effective for blocking "Category" based sites. Adware, etc.

Re: Employee Monitoring

While the practice might seem like an invasion of privacy to employees, under most circumstances an employer can monitor employee Internet activity, including e-mails, browsing histories and downloaded files. When many employees are first hired by a company, they are presented with an employee handbook which details their rights and obligations while on company time. Many of these handbooks written or updated after the advent of the Internet specifically mention a "no expectation of privacy" policy when using company-owned computers, servers and printers. "No expectation of privacy" means just that; employees cannot and should not assume their electronic communications will not be examined by their employers at some point in history.

Re: Employee Monitoring

Thanks OhioDave this is great information, I wish I had this information at my former firm because they monitored our activity and they had no formal policy.
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