luvtoto Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 OK...I need some advice about a situation at work. I work in an office with only 9 people. Very small company. Only the employees that are connected to the server, are being monitored by my boss with his "spyware"...or whatever it is called. Apparently, he states that he is able to log into anyone's desktop during the day, to check up on what they are doing without them even knowing it. The ladies usually know though, because their computer will pause and then slow down until he quits looking. My boss is able to send them pop-up messages, if he sees something he doesn't like. My boss stated, in a meeting yesterday, that he can pull up their past screen-activity *history*. Also, check their company email, even their personal internet accounts. Basically, he has complete remote access to every move they make. Now...how much of my boss' statements are just a bull**** lie? I am not familiar with these spy programs, but I think he's stretching the truth to intimidate his employees. I do not respect that...at all. All this is doing is building resentment and killing people's motivation. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 To do some of that he would need a third-party program installed on each person's computer to capture keystrokes, screenshots, and send popup messages but it is possible to do everything he said if he went through the trouble to set it all up. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 All this is doing is building resentment and killing people's motivation. That is so true and correct.. How unprofessional of him to use it to intimidate you all. Legally it is his right.. he owns the computers therefore no expectation of privacy is there and as such he can do whatever he wants with his computers.. I have used Spectorpro do do exactly what you are describing.. I have only used it once on an employees computer but we did it because we suspected child porn being downloaded and used by him. We were correct and dimissed that person after we looked at all the screenshots and emails from his previous days. One of the problems with Spectorpro and the like is that is does tend to task the slower machines and pause them if they are grabbing everything. Be very careful with these machines.. They log everything including passwords to your banking as well as all emails sent thru yahoo and hotmail. Even all the screenshots of LS and your password as well as postings are being recorded. All attachments are also saved. The data is stored into an area somewhere that your boss uses and application to review all the recorded info. There is no hiding anything with SpectorPro Personally I think your boss is an ass and I would look into finding other employment. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 It's all about the delivery of disclosure. He needs to learn a better bedside manner. He's telling you that he can, will and does this, especially if he sees anything untoward. At least he's disclosing. End result, no one can say they were unaware. Link to post Share on other sites
bonehead Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 This day and age, your best bet is to assume that everything you do on a company computer is open. Yes it is secure to the outside world, but its not closed to those who run your work network Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 It's interesting - this sounds more like a big, impersonal company kind of attitude.... The policy comes down from above, and everyone has to live with it, but it's such a big company that nobody really cares anyway - apathy all around. In a small company, it is usually much easier to motivate people by group cohesion, and by attracting them to the advantages that a small company can bring - the small group feeling, the interpersonal connections and relationships, the feeling that each individual makes a significant and noticeable contribution to the whole, the feeling that everyone is so close that everyone is important... The other factor here is that a wise small-company owner will recognize that, depending on the kind of company, each turnover in a small company can be more damaging than in a large company, because replacing one employee out of 9 is a significant hit, in terms of hiring someone new, the resources to retrain and the inefficiency and work lost during the ramp-up period. All companies go through this with turnover, but when each employee is 11% of your workforce, turning over even one position affects a signficant proportion of your ability to function. Anyway, I agree that he probably has a right to do this (although the "check[ing]...even their personal internet accounts" thing edges into creepiness...), and that his disclosure is clear (and probably wise from his perspective, as opposed to doing it in secret,) but he will pay in the long run for his approach, most measurably in employee turnover. Is it worth the irritation to stay there? Do the pay, the benefits, and other considerations balance out and make it worth it? Is he an OK boss otherwise, but just has a broomstick up his b*tt on this topic, or does this controlling, invasive attitude permeate his whole style? What keeps you there, and how bad would it have to get to want to leave? Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 When I first used one to look at the one employee who we suspected of downloading child porn I was floored and shocked at the data I was retrieving from his computer.. It made me feel like I was invading his privacy.. I looked at all the snapshots of his bank balances as well as the passwords to his and his wifes personal email accounts.. It was hard not to see that kinda stuff being I was looking at all his moves thruout the day on his computer It kinda sucked.. but we did find that he was downloading child porn and something we didn't expect is that we found that he had been cheating on his wife thru a online dating service not that that mattered for his job performance but it did show us what type of guy was working for us. It records every single action,web page.. key click, email.. everything Link to post Share on other sites
Author luvtoto Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 Well, I've heard my boss refer to it as "remote desktop". Whatever that means. I am assuming that Spectorpro is a very expensive program. Right? Why would he invest so much money into something, if the outcome didn't change anything anyways. I mean, he doesn't give raises, no benefits, very flexible. He has never fired anyone....ever!...and there were employees that deserved it!! We don't even have a policy book. Very laid back environment with no structure...other than this one thing he is emphasizing. I just don't get it. That sounds like big corporate software. Stupid to use for just 5 people. Right? So..logically, one is to believe that he is just intimidating us with half-truths. Like I said before, I don't appreciate seeing my employees treated that way. Four out of the five people have worked with the company for 20 years! Thanks everyone for your advice. I really appreciate it!! Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Well, I've heard my boss refer to it as "remote desktop". Whatever that means. I am assuming that Spectorpro is a very expensive program. Right? Remote Desktop is a function of the business series of windows. It allows you to remotely login to a computer and run it like it is your own. IT DOES NOT record anything The issue is that with winxp pro when someone logins in thru RD then it kicks the other user out of the system and puts up a login screen. It essentilay stops the person from using their machine and they have to relogin. That isn't the case with windows servers and only the desktops so it sounds like he isn't using remote desktop that comes with windows.. and yes Spectorpro is fairly expensive.. 150.00 per user from what I remember. regardless.. if people are noticing a slowdown then he is using something.. take him at his word... Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Now...how much of my boss' statements are just a bull**** lie? I am not familiar with these spy programs, but I think he's stretching the truth to intimidate his employees. I do not respect that...at all. he can do all of that and more. if he's logging keystrokes then he can get user IDs & passwords to your private accounts if you're accessing them from his computers. I believe the employer does have the right to see and monitor what you are doing but only on their equipment and network. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Like I said before, I don't appreciate seeing my employees treated that way. I would agree with you.. It is one thing for an employer to monitor and it is another for him to continue to wave it in front of everyones face in intimidation.. It sounds to me that he is getting his kicks from his power.. For him to keep logging into peoples computers in reality is costing him time and money in production. Slowing people down as well as creating an environment where people don't feel at ease.. He is being counter productive to his own company.. What a twitt Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 To do some of that he would need a third-party program installed on each person's computer to capture keystrokes, screenshots, and send popup messages but it is possible to do everything he said if he went through the trouble to set it all up. So smart. :love: I often worried about this at my second firm. I'm now certain that my boss was tracking my every click and stroke. (That sounded kinda dirty...) Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I think he is just using his ADMIN power for wrong.. He needs to stop and let his people work.. To have someone sending messages peer to peer to stop a certain activity because he is monitoring is nutso.. Yes it is within his right to do it.. but so is driving a company into the ground, which is what he will do in the end.. Link to post Share on other sites
Author luvtoto Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 Ya know...maybe he should have used that money to give raises to some well deserved employees. He hasn't given raises to some in over 15 years! He'll also play favorites with the guys employees. He just picks on the women here. He takes the guys out golfing and drinking...during the work day! I would quit, but he doesn't pick on me. I just see it happening to others and it pisses me off! Ugh...I need to just detach myself, or I will get too worked up. Thank God it's Friday! Yeah! Have a good one, guys! Thanks for all your help! Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 every place i've ever work at had inequity among the staff. they way it works is that you are required to keep your mouth shut about it, if you don't then thats when the sheeyot hits the fat. Link to post Share on other sites
Author luvtoto Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 every place i've ever work at had inequity among the staff. they way it works is that you are required to keep your mouth shut about it, if you don't then thats when the sheeyot hits the fat. Well, the sheeyot HAS hit the fan before!! It's a very dysfunctional place to work. If you hear someone yelling, it's not uncommon. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 It's a very dysfunctional place to work. almost every work place is dysfunctional.... Link to post Share on other sites
amerikajin Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 I am in no position to defend what kind of operation your boss runs, but in his defense, there is potentially a lot of liability he is taking on just by having computers with internet access in his office. Your intentions may be all well and good, but there's always the possibility that someone may come along and do something they shouldn't. Let's say someone comes along and downloads songs illegally to their Ipod and the RIAA finds out about it? Guess what happens then? Guess who's legally responsible? I know it's a bummer and it makes you feel as though you work for a cold, impersonal company, but I can understand your boss' point of view here. If it were me, I would try to establish some guidelines with regard to the computer. Maybe put a filter on it so that you can only go to certain websites and maybe indicate that any person caught doing any illegal activity will be fired immediately. That would at least cut some slack but be firm enough to deal with potential problems. It sounds, though, as if he just wants to issue an edict. As for his warnings, take them seriously. You can easily be detected by someone using a spy program, and moreover, know that even if you erase something, there's a good chance it was backed up on another drive and that it still exists. Link to post Share on other sites
Mary3 Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 I think your boss has wayyyyyyyyy too much time on his hands and is snooping almost in a neurotic sense. I can see if he suspected someone and had to take action but to tell everyone he was going to spy on everything they did gives me the creeps. Your solution : Don't do a darn thing on your computer except business related matters. Save your checking of emails , bank accounts , Love Shack and everything else personal for Home. I bet he is enjoying his power mania. He likely keeps all your stuff and has it jotted down. He can look into your bank accounts. And God knows what else... For those of you at that company who DID log into your bank : Have your bank change your account ASAP. For those who had their emails viewed close that account and open a new email account. I would be highly offended as my privacy is important. I understand fully why employers might say : Hey you guys no MYspace , No Utube , No Porn. He should just outline things you are prohibited from doing and downloading and leave you the Heck alone. My 2 cents. Link to post Share on other sites
amerikajin Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 Just FYI, I didn't see it earlier, but if someone is logging into password protected areas such as your email account and especially your bank account, that is highly illegal - even if it's done from your boss' computer and even if he managed to obtain this information through legitimate means. The only thing he can legally do is to regulate use of the computer - he is absolutely, positively not allowed to snoop into your private accounts. That's a federal law and he can get into major trouble if he's caught. Link to post Share on other sites
mental_traveller Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Yes it's quite possible to monitor everything on the company's computers. Any employee who uses work computers or phones for anything personal at all is being incredibly naive and foolish, not to mention probably breaching the terms of their employment contract. Keep personal stuff out of the office. Never log onto personal email, online bank accounts, websites not work-related etc, when using office equipment. If you take or make a personal call, never discuss anything private. That's safer for you and more professional and ethical for you & your company's working relationship. Link to post Share on other sites
Enema Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 You guys all seem a bit crowded on that side of the fence, I might hop over onto the other side for some perspective I'm going to applaud the guy for pro-actively doing something about his lazy employees who abuse the privelage of a computer with internet access that he gives them. His past experience with employees wasting time on there have forced his hand somewhat, but now there's no more mucking around. You guys can't monitor your own time, so he'll do it for you! huzzah for the shopkeep! Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 ... his lazy employees who abuse the privelage of a computer with internet access that he gives them. His past experience with employees wasting time on there have forced his hand somewhat... Could you please cite the passages from which you draw this inference? I don't think anyone is arguing that he has no right - it seems pretty certain that he does. My point is that he will reap what he sows. The practice of monitoring itself isn't even that inherently reprehensible in today's business environment, but his approach..... if he lords it over his employees, and treats them like it is an adversarial environment, then they will treat him the same way. And in the long run, he will have a company of compliant, uncreative robots - all the smart, self-motivated ones will eventually either leave or stop caring. Absolutely he's got every right to do it (with the exception of using passwords that he discovers in the process) but I don't get too outraged, because I believe that the feedback on that is that he'll eventually end up with the employees he deserves, and a business that isn't as prosperous as it could be. Link to post Share on other sites
Topper Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 I have no idea what the boss is looking for . However he might have reasons to believe that Company intellectual property might be e mailed out by an employee. Or some info concerning bids on contracts could be passed on to the competition. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 The title of the thread tells you what is happening to the workers.. Intimidation.. If a boss wants to run his company thru Intimidation so be it.. but he won't get very much loyalty of the people he needs loyalty out of therby hurting his own business. Short sighted thinking and not a very business minded person.. petty and counter productive actually Link to post Share on other sites
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