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Trojan Horse Employment Issues Related to Workplace Technologies

BY Bryce G. Murray
August 27, 2008

In the past, employees came to work and actually worked. Nowadays, employees arrive at the workplace ready to shop, blog, connect with friends and engage in other non'employment-related activities. In the past, when employees went home, they were done with work for the day unless they brought “homework” home with them. Nowadays, white-collar workers can access much of their office work from home, in the car, or on vacation. In the past, an employer only needed to monitor the “water cooler” to learn about the quality of life of its employees. Nowadays, employees can discuss quality of life, pay and other issues just about anywhere thanks to the Internet, text messaging, and other communication developments. Technology has advanced the workplace well beyond many general workplace practices employers have in place, and outpaced some workplace laws, including provisions of the Federal wage and hour laws.

Defining the Problem

Awareness of the actual issues requires technologically savvy management. But, no matter how savvy, it seems that as soon as an employer grasps the latest trend in preventing workplace technology by blocking Web sites or installing firewalls to protect their systems, the technology itself changes or becomes more advanced ' or worse, the employees outsmart the technology safeguards the employer has in place. Much like the old saying goes: “Build a better mousetrap, and the mouse gets smarter.” Employees dedicated to using their work time to surf the Internet, socialize on MySpace or Facebook, shop, day-trade stocks, look at inappropriate materials, or post negative statements about the company or another employee will find the “work-arounds” to an employer's “lock-down” attempts on prohibited technologies.

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