[Newsbot]

Title: What is 'time theft' and why are some employers so worked up about it'
Category: Business
Posted By: Strutz
Date: 2023-01-20 15:53:31
Canadian

[Strutz]

I would assume that if an employer supplied a computer/laptop to an employee to work at home that there would be some type of monitoring going on as far as the computer's activity goes. I also recall reading something about video and audio recording being active so that they can see and hear whatever might be going on in the room one is working in.

[DrCaleb]

You are quite correct. But there are also questions whether a company can monitor a private residence.

If they get their work done, who cares?

[herbie]

I worked for companies where going out by yourself for a smoke to clear your head and think about a solution and even taking a bathroom break was treated by management like it was some kind of 'time theft'.

When I was pissed off at work I'd go to the can and chuckle to myself "well that cost them $35 a pound"

[Strutz]

herbie herbie:

I worked for companies where going out by yourself for a smoke to clear your head and think about a solution and even taking a bathroom break was treated by management like it was some kind of 'time theft'.

When I was pissed off at work I'd go to the can and chuckle to myself "well that cost them $35 a pound"

That reminded me of a senior manager at a large corporation I worked for back in my early accounting/admin days. If there was a female employee he was looking for with a question or whatever and they weren't at their desk or in the copy room he would wait in the hall outside the ladies room. I remember him asking me to "go see if so-and-so was in there".

[Strutz]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

You are quite correct. But there are also questions whether a company can monitor a private residence.

If they get their work done, who cares?

Not sure about the legalities of that. Ideally, I guess, you would have a room to work in where you could close the door to block out any other noise, like a TV or radio someone else in the house is listening to and of course other household noise. I doubt that everyone would have that.

[herbie]

Had to work as a Direcotry Service operator once long ago. The supervisors spent their time randomly listening in. So one day I get call and the usual redneck - Oh? A guy operator! You must be an effing fag!
I quickly shot back with "That's not what your wife says when you're at work..." and guess who's station was getting listened to!
Got called into the office with a female supervisor who leaned across the table and slapped me... on the shoulder! Good one! But his counts as a verbal warning, so don't do it again while I'm on shift cuz you don't need a written one and I don't want the paperwork!

This was in an office of 90% women who were supposed to put a flag on their desk and wait for permission to go take a piss!

[DrCaleb]

Strutz Strutz:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

You are quite correct. But there are also questions whether a company can monitor a private residence.

If they get their work done, who cares?

Not sure about the legalities of that. Ideally, I guess, you would have a room to work in where you could close the door to block out any other noise, like a TV or radio someone else in the house is listening to and of course other household noise. I doubt that everyone would have that.

I'm pretty sure there is no way to override your constitutional right to privacy. But then again, I'm not a lawyer.

Besides, I don't see these companies complaining about time theft when employees have to answer calls and emails after hours for which they are not being paid.