The increase in use and availability of computers, email, the Internet, etc. has caused new ethical dilemmas for both employers and employees. Read the excerpt below from your textbook and choose a side. Defend your position and feel free to draw on the policies and experiences you have gathered from your own jobs.
Conflicts Over Privacy in the Workplace
There is tension between companies and their employees over privacy in the workplace. Some companies track employees via company-issued GPS-enabled smartphones and monitor employees’ behavior through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Currently, there are no laws preventing companies from monitoring and tracking employees. Companies believe not monitoring these platforms leaves them vulnerable to misconduct. For instance, the Internet increased the number of distractions in the workplace, and some employees may spend up to 30 percent of their time at work using social media sites for nonwork purposes.
On the other hand, employees argue they have a right to their privacy. They see tracking as a clear sign that their employers do not trust them. Another major argument is that employers with access to employee social media sites or smartphones might be able to monitor employee activity outside the workplace. Where is the line drawn on ensuring employees are working appropriately versus their rights to privacy?
Post your opinion. Express it in a professional way. Do not copy the opinion of a classmate. Use your own thoughts and words. Worth 20 points.