Bosses use employee-tracking software to catch remote workers slacking off on the job. We asked one tracking company what their technology does.
Rikudou_Sage
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1451Y

What dystopia do you guys live in? I’ve worked for some small companies and some corporates and neither did this shit, that really wouldn’t fly here.

@Arigion@feddit.de
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1091Y

It’s illegal in the EU, so probably not there.

@lud@lemm.ee
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7
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1Y

Kinda I guess.

Installing software to log and remotely access a computer is not illegal. Remember that the computer isn’t yours and that you signed a document permitting it.

Not restricting access and using it maliciously might be illegal though. Idk.

Edit: found this: https://www.worktime.com/12-most-asked-questions-on-eu-employee-monitoring-laws

@Ricaz@lemmy.ml
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391Y

It’s legal to spy on your employees in USA?

I’m beginning to think all their tinfoil conspiracy theories aren’t completely baseless…

𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘
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11Y

Indeed it is. There are limits, but not many.

Idk but it’s a work computer I suppose

@Ricaz@lemmy.ml
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11Y

In that case I think it’s mostly fine

Lol ever heard of NSA? Employees are nothing

@MonkderZweite@feddit.ch
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4
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1Y

The NSA are not allowed to spy on their own citizens. That’s why they use data of friendly countries’ agencies.

And yet it’s been proven they’ve been doing it anyway with no real changes or outcry afterwards

“Just bycatch we accidentally got while investigating stuff in Microsoft & Facebook”.

Mfw you think mass surveillance is so scary

It seems like they collect the data from big tech and not directly from the users.

@1984@lemmy.today
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23
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1Y

Why would it be tinfoil? The us culture is very much about hardcore capitalism. They don’t even have unions or proper vacations.

@WingedThing@lemmy.one
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11Y

Not true on either count. We just don’t have enough unions and only some of us have good vacation.

We have unions lmao what?!

@kurcatovium@lemm.ee
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5
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1Y

Well, our ~800 people company has unions too. But they don’t do sh#t for people. And I mean real sh#t. Except for once a year they have a meeting with free sandwiches they eat and then go home. Another year of unions well done… apparently by them.

But my friends working in big technical/industrial corp say their unions are quite strong and they at least care for employees a bit.

So yeah, there’re unions to this day, but their meaning is not met everywhere.

Dark Arc
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51Y

Are you sure your union isn’t helping? No union is going to be run by miracle workers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t improve conditions. I can’t say for sure, but I suspect this sentiment is part of why union membership fell apart in the 20th century “well my union doesn’t do anything for me anyways.”

Like democracy, unions do require some upkeep via people stepping up. If you don’t like how your union is performing, you could consider becoming a rep (admittedly based on my limited understanding as a non-union employee).

@kurcatovium@lemm.ee
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2
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1Y

Yes, I am pretty sure. I know most people there personally. It’s kind of sad it even exists, pretty much waste of money in this case.

//edit: it’s virtually impossible to become rep in this case. The company is like family business (not real family, but everyone knows everyone since forever kind of thing) and it is like stalemate for everyone both in union and in management. Unions know they won’t do anything without trying hard (and they won’t because most of them are nearing retirement and they want their peace) and management know unions won’t cause them problems, because they’re what they are.

@settoloki@lemmy.one
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141Y

Yeah, they lack personal freedom in USA, it’s just the way it is. Freedom means it’s ok for your boss to spy on you, they’re free to do that and you are free to be spied on. Oh and they get to own a gun which makes them like really really cool and tough.

Depends what mean by owning a gun but some people are so insecure about their personal safety that they probably want one

Land of the Free, my dude!

Rikudou_Sage
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471Y

That might be it. The more I learn the happier I am I live in EU.

IndiBrony
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181Y

As a Brit who appreciated what the EU did for us: this makes me sad 😢

Rikudou_Sage
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71Y

Well, here’s to hoping that you’ll join us one day again :)

10EXP
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11Y

This is from someone who doesn’t keep up at all: Does the UK plan on it? Are there at least people proposing rejoining?

Rikudou_Sage
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3
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1Y

Nothing serious, but the general consensus online is that it would be the smart thing to do. Note the keyword online. Given that I frequented Reddit and now Lemmy, there’s obviously a bias.

UK people were kinda drunk on their former glory and didn’t quite notice that basically everyone worth considering (US, EU, China) has the upper hand when dealing with them alone. Realistically speaking, they’ll have to join EU (or its successor) eventually if they want to stay relevant. We might be talking 10 years, 20 years, 50 or even 100. If I personally had to guess, it’s gonna be 20 to 40 years.

Edit: Forgot to mention that UK had a lot of exceptions because they joined quite early where they had a lot more political strength over the union. When they join, they’ll have to do it by the same rules as everyone else without exceptions which many of them are salty about (meaning those who are generally pro-rejoin but not under the same rules as other countries).

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