1. Monitoring Employees on Networks
Unethical or Good Business?
By: Francisco Rose

2. Agenda Case Summary Ethical reasons for monitoring Fears & Problems
Questions
Solution
Conclusion

3. Summary of case
This case seeks to address the ethics of monitoring employees use of networks or the necessity of monitoring it to improve the companies business. While a controversial subject, the cons of using companies resources for personal use far outweighs the question of ethics. What was highlighted as important is having a clearly written set of guidelines in the company’s policy , that will protect the company and reduce their expenses from employees usage and alert employees that they will be monitored so that it would not be considered unethical.

4. What led to Monitoring Increase in computer usage
Abuse of Company resources
Time spent online
25% unrelated to work

5. Company Fears
Pornography
Lawsuits
Sports sites
Retail Outlets

6. Real Problem Email Online trading Productivity loss Clogged network
On company time
Productivity loss

7. Real Problem – cont’d Availability of Company’s Bandwidth
Cost of expansion, time consuming
Loss of revenue
Overcharges to clients
Illegal Activities
Company can be held liable
Negative publicity

8. Questions #1
Is it ethical for employers to simply check on a fishing expedition, without having any specific reason to suspect that the employee has a problem that needs to be addressed?

9. Question # 2
If employees complain about an undue invasion of privacy, how can management determine whether the employee’s complaints are legitimate?

10. Question # 3
Write a rationale that would ban all employees personal use of the internet, including and the Web.

11. Question # 4
Evaluate as an effective tool a zero tolerance position (firing of employees any time an Internet access rule is broken). If you do not believe zero tolerance is an appropriate policy, under what circumstances would you support firing an employee for using the Internet or while on the job?

12. Question # 5
Write what you consider to be an effective and Web-use policy for a company. Briefly describe the company and explain your reasoning for its details.

13. What’s the Solution? Complete Ban Restricted time of use
Password access
Time restriction
Blocked site access

14. Doing it Ethically! Written Guidelines
Explicit ground rules
Written consequences
Tailored to specific organization
Who has the right to access

15. Conclusion
No solution is problem free! Companies need to have proper communication with employees about their specific guidelines and in return employees need to adhere to those guidelines.