In a recent and much publicized case, a Woman Fired Keystroke Technology from her employment utilized by her employer. Some people believe it should be the employees’ right to privacy while others argue that employees have no privacy at the workplace. It is a really perverted and, at the same time, very informative story of the ability of corporations to use surveillance technology to treat neurological disorders and its possible effects on workers.
The Rise of Keystroke Technology in Modern Workplaces
Keylogging technology or keystroke logging that monitors the keys an employee types on the keyboard is widely being adopted in organizations. This technology is employed in organizations so that they can keep track of the workers’ performance in order to guarantee that they are working hard. Still, as depicted in the case of the woman who was fired because of keystroke technology, workplace surveillance poses great threats to privacy rights. For more information , visit here.
In the case described, a woman was typing at work, and her keystrokes were recorded secretly from her conscious level and she was fired when the bosses decided that she was not typing enough to be productive. This has emerged critical questions regarding the ethical scooping of applying such technology in the working places and whether employees are well informed concerning the extent of monitoring.
Woman Fired Keystroke Technology: Legal considerations
The legal effects of Woman Fired Keystroke Technology patterns are many. In many places in the world, employees are legally allowed or required to monitor the activities of enterprise’s workers, especially if the work is done with the use of company-provided devices. However, there is always a difference between maintaining employees’ productivity and invading their privacy.
In the case where the woman was dismissed because of keystroke technology, the company claimed that they had analyzed the data and all of them demonstrated the lack of productivity. But the woman argued she had no idea that her every keystroke was being overseen to that extent. This case brings into focus the risks for and against employees being monitored and the importance of having well laid down rules and regulations on the same. Otherwise, there are high chances employees might feel they are being invaded in privacy which breeds mistrust and laws.
Impacts on Employee Trust and Morale
The working woman has been fired because of the ‘‘keystroke technology’’; such dismissals have created tension and uneasiness to other women in similar workplaces. The realization that every typed stroke is being monitored, erodes the confidence of the subjects in the organization. Workers may get the impression that they are being watched or spied on most of the time which may demoralize them, or cause them to work slowly.
Furthermore, this case raises the issue of surveillance at the workplace because the act was done in the workplace but it also has implications for other office practices. While the companies may use the argument of efficiency, the employees will always find it very disturbing that their privacy is being infringed. It could be seen that the tension between productivity and privacy is rather high, and any attempts by a company to find a compromise between the two may easily erode the trust of the employees instead of gaining it.
Woman Fired Keystroke Technology: What Employers Can Learn
To the employers, Woman Fired Keystroke Technology brings a lesson. This means that it is important for the companies to set rules that will regulate the use of the technology and ensure that the employees are well informed concerning the use of the monitoring technology. Transparency can partially positively address the problem of surveillance with the best working environment.
Employers should also examine if such an invasive monitor is actually necessary. Other forms of appraisal could be more effective, for example, frequent appraisals and feedback might be as effective while observing the privacy of the employees. First, if companies make an effort to focus more on trust and respect it will help shape a more pleasant atmosphere in the workplace.
Future Implications for Employee Privacy Rights
It can be predicted that with advancement in technology and as more people get access to computers, firms will employ keystroke technology and other surveillance techniques. But then, as evidenced by the case of the Woman Fired Keystroke Technology, there has to be a respect for the privacy clause. Many people use these tools and thus as the number of industries implementing them grows there might be increasing demands for high standards of safety measures for employees.
Since today there are not sufficient rules that could define acceptable monitoring, governments and legal bodies may need to intervene and make new laws concerning this question. On the other hand, the employees should be informed of their rights and how much they are allowed to be monitored. It will enable them to make rational choices especially in employment and to fight for their right to privacy.
What is keystroke technology?
Keystroke logging is a kind of technology where the data of a specific individual’s key presses on the keyboards is captured. This technology is widely used in organizations through which employers can monitor their employees’ productivity.
Is it permissible or legal to track keystrokes at the workplace?
Yes, indeed in many regions, employers have the permission to monitor the keystrokes, be it on the company or not, however, if it is the company equipment that the employee uses, then he has every right to monitor the same. Nevertheless, some aspects of monitoring should be explained to the employees, especially the scope and the intensity of these actions.
Why was the woman fired due to keystroke technology?
The woman lost her job due to the fact that the keystroke technology that her employer had installed analyzed and concluded that her productivity at work was very low. This led to her termination and this brought about many discussions on the aspects of privacy and ethical usage of such a technology.
What are the privacy concerns related to keystroke technology?
There are various issues which relate privacy concerns to the use of the keystroke technology as outlined below; Keystroke technology can be also considered intrusive as this technology logs all keys pressed by an employee. This can cause privacy issues especially when the employees do not understand the level of monitoring going on.
In this way, the question arises how productivity tracking can be achieved without invading individuals’ privacy?
To meet these needs, companies should be very open to their monitoring programs, it should be very clear to the employees as to what is being monitored and perhaps, try out less intrusive forms of monitoring their productivity.
Conclusion
The story of the woman dismissed from the workplace because of keystroke technology best illustrates the need for compliance with productivity without violating employee’s right to privacy. As much as there might be business need for employers to monitor the workers, they have to do so in a way that is constitutional to the human rights of an individual. Treating people with acceptable decency, respect and concerning the effects of such a technology must be clear, transparent and well thought out to sustain trust and morale.
