Response/comments/rating required - Analysis of an issue

[ameya]

ESSAY QUESTION:
"Employees should expect no privacy while on the job, even when engaging in personal communication via telephone or e-mail. Employers are paying for their employees' time and have a reasonable expectation that this time is spent solely on work-related activities."

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the position stated above. Support your views with reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

YOUR RESPONSE:
I would against employers not granting any sort of privacy to its employees. Employees should be able to have their share of privacy while on work.

It has to be understood that employees are not machines. There are some areas which the employees would like to keep to themselves especially their personal communication. Companies can provide special areas where the employee can go to for engaging in personal telephonic communication. This would be beneficial not only to the company since the employee would not be disturbing others around him but also to the employee who can be assured of his/her privacy.

Employers pay their employees to complete their assigned job on time. Till the time employees maintain the decorum and discipline at workplace and complete their job on time, there is no need to interfere in their privacy. There can be multiple instances when the employee would need to engage in some personal matters during working hours. For example, one would engage in a personal conversation with one's family if there is any sort of accident during working hours.

There will also be a huge psychological effect on the employees when they know that they are being watched all the time. People do not like that and in turn such a policy will lead to reduction in employee throughput. An employee should always feel comfortable at work and exhibit a positive attitude for delivering the best. Granting that much privacy so as to engage in personal communication will also make the employees feel that the company cares for them.

However, overindulgence in personal activities during working hours will also lead to deteriorating employee performance and hence there should be a limit to how much privacy an employee gets on the job. I, therefore, am of the opinion that there should be privacy for employee on the job but a manager has to keep an eye on the employee performance and indulgence in personal communication.

[StaceyKoprince]

Hi - I just want to make sure you know that instructors don't rate or review essays - see the sticky for this folder if you have any questions. But, of course, you are more than welcome to post and ask for feedback from your peers!