New software lets employers monitor employees social website and time online
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
March 31, 2010 12:08pm CST
Teneros released a software program called Social Sentry this week. For $2-$8 an employee...this company now offeres the service to monitor the employees use of social websites and how much time they spend online. Your employer would be able to see every post and comment made.
What do you think of this? I can see people getting fired for an off color joke, or airing their political beliefs, nor an online arguement. Lord knows we have a lot of those in here. How would you like it if your boss got to see all the posts and comments you made in here?
What right to privacy do employees have when it comes to what they do on their own time?
Company's are saying they have a right to monitor it because they are checking to make sure company secrets are being released...or that an employee is not bad mouthing the company. Note to everyone...if you have a bad day at work...or disagree with something your boss says or does...do NOT post it on social website. Your boss will probly see it. It will probly be used to fire you. I seems what you say and do online CAN and WILL be used to fire you at work.
Tell me what you think.
5 people like this
9 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I suppose they have every right to check on what someone is doing on a computer when they're supposed to be working. If someone is doing it on their own time, such as during their breaks or lunch, I guess they could still say they were using the work computers. However, I don't see how it could be possible for them to check what someone is doing online outside of work. I would have a problem with that but I doubt they could do that.
Annie
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Yeah, the keyword is "public" social websites. I think anyone who allows their facebook and myspace accounts to be public is just asking for trouble. Granted, Facebook made people's profiles default to public without telling them so a lot of people don't realize it.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I agree with you taskr. Not too long ago facebook dealt with the privacy issue and gave users of the site more information about exactly what they're putting out there and how they can control what is public and what is private.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
31 Mar 10
They don't monitor their home computer...they monitor the websites. They will see when you post and what you post..comments...twitters...things like that. They can't legally monitor your home computer...but they can see what you are putting on "public" social websites.
Time to check your security restrictions on those sites...block anyone who is not listed as your friend from seeing anything. Because if not your boss could find out waht you post.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
31 Mar 10
If these are work computers, I say yes the employer has every right to monitor every key stroke. If it is your personal computer, I say the employer, no matter what reason, does not have that right. I am self employed so I have to really watch it because I can be a real bytch! 
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
31 Mar 10
THey are monitoring both. I can understand monitoring at work computers. They are paying them to work..not play online. But at home. I don't agree with that.
They should not be able to monitor what their employees say and do when they are not on company time.
But they are doing it...and no law has been passed to stop them.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
31 Mar 10
They don't ask your permission. The software searches for you on those social sites and then sends all the information on them to your employer. They don't even have to tell you they are doing it.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
1 Apr 10
I don't see how this could fly. It is an extreme invasion of privacy. If they are only monitering the computers within the company which is what I expect this software does then they have every right. They are paying their employees to work and you should not be on line while at work. As for monitoring employees at home, well that is crap. I would hope my boss had better things to do with his time.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
2 Apr 10
I agree it is fine at work, most companies will block sites they do not want employees accessing anyway. I just think it is ridiculous if they think they have the right to 'monitor' what you do online at home. *I* don't have the right to monitor what any of you does at home! Even if I were the president. Then again, I'm not a jerk 
and I'm not that nosy.
and I'm not that nosy. @mommyboo (13174)
• United States
1 Apr 10
This is WRONG and unconstitutional - UNLESS you're speaking of usage of WORK COMPUTERS AT WORK. If we're talking about whatever people do on their own time, on their phones, laptops, or home computers, none of that is anybody's business except for the individual. We have a right to be able to do what we wish within basic legal standards on our own time, that includes social networking and other activities online, as well as other pursuits such as clubbing or drinking. Those things have NOTHING to do with work and it's not an employer's business what you do when you are not on the clock. I would personally make sure I block anybody who might try to use something against me from anything I do online JUST IN CASE they are going to be a jerk and TRY to screw me over based on something that is none of their business and never will be. I would likely also take them to small claims court over it, my privacy shall remain intact tyvm.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
1 Apr 10
"it's not an employer's business what you do when you are not on the clock."
So if you're a teacher at an inner city school and decide to go marching in a Nazi parade screaming at the top of your lungs that you hate blacks and Jews and they should be kept out of the public school system you don't think the employer has any business firing you? What if you do an interview on TV and direct racial slurs at your boss?
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
2 Apr 10
"I refuse to accept any responsibility for someone who CHOOSES to purposely do obnoxious things IN PUBLIC."
The internet is a public place. If you don't want your behavior on Facebook or Myspace to be public, keep it private. Then your employer will never know what you're doing. That said I used an extreme example to clarify why your activities on the clock can and will be used against you if your employer finds them objectionable. Many people are foolish enough to badmouth their bosses on Facebook and myspace and when caught, they can be fired. An employer can fire you for ANY reason except those prohibited by law (race, gender, religion, etc.)
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
1 Apr 10
BTW, just a note - if you are following me in any form just because you want to harrass me or report to someone, you'll be found out lol. If you do such a thing, it's pretty classless and also means you have no life because nobody with a life would have the kind of time to waste on something like that. Not sure if I'm more irritated or if I feel more sorry for such a sap
*I just had to put it out there (shrug)
*I just had to put it out there (shrug) @spalladino (17891)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Social Sentry cannot break through your privacy settings...it can only locate and monitor what the public can see...so it's an automated version of looking at someone's activities yourself. For that reason, I believe that an employer has the right to do this...just as an ex-husband, your sister or the nosey neighbor down the street does...because it's public. As far as being fired for what you post on a social networking site...you can also be fired for mouthing off about your boss/job or sharing confidential information at a bar or at any other public gathering where it's overheard and makes it's way back to your boss.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Right. There's no reason to allow just anyone anything other than the most limited access to your info.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
31 Mar 10
thanks for letting everyone know. everyone just needs to check their security settings.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
31 Mar 10
What you say online was already being watched by employers; this just automates it. One of the last checks a prospective employer does is run a social networking check to see how you act/what you say online. Knowing this, I warned my nephew to watch what he says on FB because what he says is public for all to see, forever, to include employers he may want to work for some day. Fortunately, he listened and his language has cleaned up quite a bit...and he's looking for another job.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Yeah, that's serious stuff. I'm sure not all jobs do this, but I just started a new job and my coworkers even told me they looked up me and another new hire on facebook. That's why I keep mine completely private. All anyone will see is a family photo and any mutual friends we have.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
31 Mar 10
lol....it took him looking for a new job to clean up his language.
But seriously it was a good thing you told him.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
31 Mar 10
It's nosy and bothersome, but it's really no different than checking what your employee is shouting in the middle of central park. Employers can fire you for things you do in public, off the clock. My brother got fired from a job once when his boss heard him ask a coworker "What's up his a$$?" My brother was off the clock and outside the store during this conversation, but it really didn't matter. Employers can fire you for any reason aside from race, gender, and other things protected by law.
The social networking bit has become a big deal lately though as employees call in sick, then post pictures of themselves partying the night they were sick. One person, in Canada I think, was on medical leave and collecting disability or somthing when she started posting pictures of herself partying. Now she's in a lot of trouble and of course has lost her disability.
@kaylachan (84929)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Apr 10
I see nothing against it. Things like that are in place in schools and many businesses. People who are hired are there to do a job, not to goof off and do as they please. And, just like anything people should have the smarts to know by now no matter where you post it or what you think you're doing... it never goes away. Never.
