Watching YouTube at work? Your manager may know

Does your manager know that you are watching this video now?

Micromanagers have long existed in workplaces. But as companies grapple with rising costs and shrinking budgets, some employers want to be sure their employees are as productive as possible.

And sometimes, they do so with the help of monitoring software.

While employee monitoring software can see everything on one’s desktop in real-time — keystrokes, browsing activity, emails, and chat apps — some may be taking surveillance to the extreme.

In China, for example, such intrusive behaviors include installing cameras in toilets, using artificial intelligence tools to flag employees looking for new jobs, and emotion-recognition systems that can assess how “happy” workers are in the office.

What are the implications if employee surveillance becomes the new norm?

Watch the video above to learn why surveillance may backfire on companies, whether existing laws are enough to protect workers’ privacy – and how one young employee is fighting back.

#CNBC #China #Surveillance
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[lostinmuzak]

If a manager cannot tell who is engaged and who is not by looking at their work then let’s get a new manager.

[the_nomadic_ajith]

I am working from home 3 years now. I usually keep Youtube on my secondary screen and play music or non distracting videos all the time. And it actually helps me from getting bored at work and falling sleepy.

[vladrazym]

The only thing workers should be evaluated on is the result of their work, everything else doesn't matter. Otherwise it doesn't make any sense

[marisortiz]

Give employees a minimum required workload to complete, and allow them whatever means necessary to complete it. That is how you build a successful team. You cannot treat a human employee like a robot.

[portalomus]

I love how it's like don't you dare do anything for yourself during work hours....but also work overtime (unpaid cause your salaried) on your own time to get your projects done.

[david]

After I started my first job, I was so motivated to create value for my company, to work with my team on projects and just solve all challenges to make progress towards our company goals. I was healthy, motivated and productive. But slowly, having to work 8 hours EACH FREAKING DAY, I became unhealthy, unmotivated and unproductive. Instead of asking myself what can I do next to create value for my company and my team, I was asking myself how can I spend the next 8 hours of working time to not get completly exhausted so I can at least go to the gym or do Something with my friends after work instead of just falling over into bed.

I fully understand people that have to work full time why they are putting up a productivity theater because anything else is unsustainable and unfullfilling.

[jjn]

This is why I do all my web surfing on my PC that's setup next to my work laptop. Also, shame on the businesses that create employee spying software in the first place! Trust is a two-way street, so employers who operate from bad faith from the get-go can expect their employees to do the same to them.

[KRN]

Do your personal tasks on your PHONE. Never on the company equipment

[handsomestrangr]

The way I see it, if I hire an adult, I’m going to treat them like an adult. If you’re a competent manager you know who your effective employees are. I’m not babysitting these people. We’re here to work and get a job done. Sure, every so often you’ll get one who takes advantage of the situation but again, it’s obvious who it is and in my experience, talking to them and showing them the results of their performance has generally been enough to help them want to move forward on their own. I think humans naturally want to be at least somewhat productive and make a difference and many I’ve dealt with are willing to work hard to help the person next to them. If your company uses this stuff then it’s obvious you don’t trust the people you hire, so maybe get some new hiring managers? Or a better culture?

[ccohen]

As a Sr Director for a biotech I encourage my employees to have a work life balance. They know what our mission is and what needs to get done and when and how. The rest is up to them. I am happy when they mix up their day with personal time and relax. This creates a happy employee I can have on my team for years.

[robl]

Two things:

1. Always assume everything you do on your work computer is being monitored

2. I don’t see the point in this software. Employees either deliver value or they don’t. If they don’t, then they aren’t productive. Is monitoring their every move necessary?

[RafaWasHere]

Employees should be judged by performance on deadlines not active time. A company does not profit on active time but what is produced during that time.

[NTVT]

Meanwhile the boss is on his 3rd martini at the post golfing lunch, charging his time to the company account 😂

[ozchinesefriendship]

That's so damn terrible. No privacy at all. We are employees not slaves 😅😅

[plainseed]

I would love to install all these surveillance technology into the board and executive room as well

[cfwin]

I love the idea of using an oscillating fan to move the mouse back and forth 😂

[miglangell]

"Employee monitoring software", where's the CEO monitoring software at?

[Rafaelguitarplayer]

I'm working right now, and I'm on youtube, I was watching a video that help me to solve a problem that no one on my team had solved yet.
Deal with that, manager.

[Erintii]

This is why I use my private devices to listen to podcasts, watch YT and never company devices.

[jon]

As a salary employee why does time even matter? I thought the difference from being an hourly employee is time is no longer relevant but the results of your output regardless of how long it takes!