RWS_Q1_22

favor of the idea of doing your job, properly and effectively. Assuming nothing is private: While it is not illegal to check your email or social media while on the clock, some companies would see this as a violation of policy. The best practice is to strive for work/home separation, keeping all job emails, videoconferences and collaboration strictly professional while using a company device. Treat all interactions and communications as if your boss is looking over your shoulder. If nothing else, this change in perspective helps to keep your interactions professional and in line with organizational expectations. Studying organizational data-collection policy: This knowledge helps increase awareness as to why your company may be watching and also serves to answer questions regarding what activity is permitted during business hours. Keeping your boss updated: In many cases, the company may simply want to know what is going on. There is no harm in getting permission to do a nonwork task, such as making a personal phone call or running a household errand, if time allows. If anything, your employer may be encouraged to trust if they feel you are forthright and transparent. Maintaining separation for work and play: Use a business computer exclusively for work-related functions, and personal devices for the rest. This way, should your home life bleed into work hours, you know that you are covered. Sure, there have been instances in which a company asks to monitor personal electronics, but most experts believe that it is best to request an additional company issued device, whether a handset, tablet, etc., to do business instead. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that today’s organization has the right to assess its remote workers, the same as if in an office together. The key, most experts agree, is to keep the practice in perspective and exercise sound judgment to render the tattleware useless. “It may feel intrusive,” said Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. “But it is not illegal.” J Top reasons employees feel stress and/or anxiety due to workplace surveillance Say it’s a violation of trust 43% Constantly wondering whether they’re being watched 41% Feel more pressure to be actively online than doing actual productive work 38% Feel pressure to work longer hours in general 36% Feel pressure to work more and/or an equal amount of time as my colleagues 36% Take fewer breaks throughout the day 32% Say it makes them feel unappreciated 28% Say it makes them feel resentment 26% Feel dehumanized as a result of workplace surveillance 20% Source: Express VPN 48 REMOTE WORK SOLUTIONS rwsmagazine.com at least can be – spying on you, this decision is one of the few choices the employee has. For many, considerations such as work expectations, culture and compensation are enough to win out, especially considering that tattleware use will likely expand either way. While this notion provides a grim outlook that requires accepting a necessary evil, some staffers actually see their employment status as less important than having an environment of trust. There are, of course, other options before taking that route. Accepting tattleware: Regardless of your own personal preference, secure employment is usually the prudent choice. Sometimes it is best to shed personal feelings of mistrust or paranoia in

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