Tracking your employees’ internet use is a debate that many employers have. There are certainly many benefits, but there are also the questions of whether you trust the people who work for you. The main aim is to make the most money from their time spent doing the tasks you set them, and web tracking software can ensure that. However, do that make it right for you to do? It depends on a few conditions.
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| Image Credit: Sean MacEntee |
You Want to Track a Particular Member of Staff
There are times that you have one member of staff that you question the integrity of. You may believe that they are leaking documents, or they may be spending all the time playing games instead of doing work. It’s difficult to monitor his internet use and you could be viewed as singling him out if you just check his computer.Tracking the whole office is much easier, and fairer. You may even find that other members of staff are involved in the coup or are up to things. From there, you can decide what to do with the evidence, and have it if it comes back to haunt you in the future.
Do You Trust Your Employees?
Monitoring their computer use can come across as them being untrustworthy. Of course, in some cases you may not trust their actions. It’s up to you to determine whether you trust your staff enough to follow rules that you have set in place.Monitoring them with stealth tracking software could be the option. You’re not blocking websites, showing that you trust them to make the right decision. You’re then monitoring their activity without them realising to see if you can trust them. If you find that they’re using the internet for their own use all the time, and not getting on with their work, then you can take appropriate action.
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| Image Credit: Ministerio TIC Colombia |
It’s for the Safety of the Employees
There can be workplace bullies. These people act quietly and quickly, and will not usually leave any trace of their actions. Tracking the web use could be in the interest of your other employees. You want to see the sites that people use, and can track comments that they make. You could find that one employee is attacking another through social media during working hours.By knowing that one person is acting against the code of conduct, you prevent the victim being forced out of the work place. This can help protect you against a lawsuit later, and shows that you really do care about your employees. You gain more trust from those who are or could be victims in the future.
Tracking and monitoring web use can feel slimy, but there are good reasons to do it. This is more than just about protecting your business. You are also protecting your employees from possibly bullies in the office. This makes the environment more friendly, so people are more productive and want to work for you.
This guest post was written by Kumarpal Shah, a freelance writer. He has helped many businesses and found that the use of web tracking software helps in the majority of cases.
