Published on Wednesday, Apr 04, 2007
OUR privacy is under siege. Nothing is sacred anymore. The fine lines of confidentiality are blurring, as privacy infringement flourishes with an Orwellian fervour. Whether we purchase a jacket online, sign up for a bank account or take up a job, there is always a chance that the personal information we disclose reaches unknown quarters.
Britain's Princess Margaret once bemoaned, `I have as much privacy as a gold fish in a bowl'. Today, this lament is no longer the privilege of the rich and famous. Even the common man is not spared a gross violation of the fundamental right of privacy. In fact, holding a job itself has become an invasion of privacy.
The corporate sentinel is always watching! Employers are not above monitoring telephone calls, tracking Internet access, screening e-mails and snooping through files. They even transmit as well as use confidential information like employees' medical records while taking critical decisions.
No longer do they need to perch over the employees' shoulders, with computer technology at their beck and call. A recent study by the American Management Association found that 55 per cent companies use electronic devices to record and review their employees' communications and activities on the job. The employees may go hoarse screaming, `none of your business', but no one is listening.
Playing `Big Brother'
Employers call the shots in this game. They have carte blanche access to employee information and can maintain imperceptible surveillance too. The companies provide some legitimate reasons for this blatant invasion of privacy.
Need to collect and use personal information from and about employees to comply with labour, tax and other laws besides administering benefits.
Surveillance is invaluable to the security and success of the organisation as it combats the constant risk of internal hacking, fraud, theft and sabotage by disgruntled workers.
Companies often undertake monitoring what employees are doing on company time to increase productivity and focus on company goals as well as restrict personal e-mails and web surfing.
They can even face liability issues when employees access illegal or inappropriate websites. As such, a top New York newspaper recently fired 23 employees for sending e-mails containing inappropriate images by keeping an eye on their mails.
The other end of the spectrum
American actor Marlon Brando once said, `Privacy is not something that I am merely entitled to; it is an absolute prerequisite'.
Every person guards his privacy with his life. The fact that `someone is watching' can be quite distressing and is a thorn in every employee's side.
If allowed to fester, it can snowball with quite a few repercussions. Alienation of workers, reduced interaction, increase in stress levels, and destruction of company loyalty, trust and reputation are the hard-hitting consequences of insufficient privacy strategies, which could be detrimental to overall company performance.
A question of balance
A watchdog on privacy intrusions is essential. Ensuring the security of personnel records and communication must be a priority for every organisation.
Employers should clearly define and disseminate their privacy policy to the employees. Consistent explanations should be given during recruitment and orientation stages itself.
Covert spying is a strict no-no; reveal the nature, extent and purpose of your monitoring. Employees should be aware of what information is being recorded and how it might have to be used. Also, the company should tread with discretion and use surveillance as a lawful business tool without misusing confidential information of employees or letting it fall into the hands of others.
All said and done, privacy invasion is here to stay. To a certain degree, it is necessary and normal. You can either grind your teeth in frustration or just grin and bear it. The choice is yours.
Britain's Princess Margaret once bemoaned, `I have as much privacy as a gold fish in a bowl'. Today, this lament is no longer the privilege of the rich and famous. Even the common man is not spared a gross violation of the fundamental right of privacy. In fact, holding a job itself has become an invasion of privacy.
The corporate sentinel is always watching! Employers are not above monitoring telephone calls, tracking Internet access, screening e-mails and snooping through files. They even transmit as well as use confidential information like employees' medical records while taking critical decisions.
No longer do they need to perch over the employees' shoulders, with computer technology at their beck and call. A recent study by the American Management Association found that 55 per cent companies use electronic devices to record and review their employees' communications and activities on the job. The employees may go hoarse screaming, `none of your business', but no one is listening.
Playing `Big Brother'
Employers call the shots in this game. They have carte blanche access to employee information and can maintain imperceptible surveillance too. The companies provide some legitimate reasons for this blatant invasion of privacy.
Need to collect and use personal information from and about employees to comply with labour, tax and other laws besides administering benefits.
Surveillance is invaluable to the security and success of the organisation as it combats the constant risk of internal hacking, fraud, theft and sabotage by disgruntled workers.
Companies often undertake monitoring what employees are doing on company time to increase productivity and focus on company goals as well as restrict personal e-mails and web surfing.
They can even face liability issues when employees access illegal or inappropriate websites. As such, a top New York newspaper recently fired 23 employees for sending e-mails containing inappropriate images by keeping an eye on their mails.
The other end of the spectrum
American actor Marlon Brando once said, `Privacy is not something that I am merely entitled to; it is an absolute prerequisite'.
Every person guards his privacy with his life. The fact that `someone is watching' can be quite distressing and is a thorn in every employee's side.
If allowed to fester, it can snowball with quite a few repercussions. Alienation of workers, reduced interaction, increase in stress levels, and destruction of company loyalty, trust and reputation are the hard-hitting consequences of insufficient privacy strategies, which could be detrimental to overall company performance.
A question of balance
A watchdog on privacy intrusions is essential. Ensuring the security of personnel records and communication must be a priority for every organisation.
Employers should clearly define and disseminate their privacy policy to the employees. Consistent explanations should be given during recruitment and orientation stages itself.
Covert spying is a strict no-no; reveal the nature, extent and purpose of your monitoring. Employees should be aware of what information is being recorded and how it might have to be used. Also, the company should tread with discretion and use surveillance as a lawful business tool without misusing confidential information of employees or letting it fall into the hands of others.
All said and done, privacy invasion is here to stay. To a certain degree, it is necessary and normal. You can either grind your teeth in frustration or just grin and bear it. The choice is yours.
PAYAL CHANANIA
No comments:
Post a Comment