Privacy: to what extent?

My comments on the article 'Snooping Bosses'

It is one of many famous topics for debate today and the scope of it is very wide; privacy.

So, what is privacy? Is it acceptable to violate someone’s privacy? And if so the case when would that be?

Dealing with these interrelated issues from a right-or-wrong perspective is a narrow approach. Taking it further by discussing the necessity of such violation versus when the exact same act should be considered immoral, is a more adequate way of tackling this problem, I think.

Dropdowns in efficiency and productivity will certainly raise some suspicion among management, and a natural way of responding to that decrease will probably be to open an investigation. The key goal is, of course, to figure out whether the decrease was caused by external reasons or internal neglect.
Since, internal reasons are easier to keep track on and thus control completely.

In this respect, many will argue that common sense is enough to curb people from acting inappropriately, but we all are different which only provide different definitions of that phrase and as a result of our many definitions we will end up in confusion, and only confusion. Others might say that trying to reason with the employees not to use the workplace for anything but work, is another possible approach.

Well, there is a slight chance that these methods will serve its purpose, but unfortunately only with people with moderately high work ethics.

On the other hand, does the threat “you’re being watched!” make us behave better or does only trigger the “creative” part of our brains in order to figure out even more efficient methods to get away with things?

As a matter of fact, it is very hard to say. It all depends on our personal nature and experiences.

Up to this point, I have ignored that most companies/corporations that exist today apply the classical model in corporate governance, i.e. the hierarchical model. Thus, the “first level” of employees has to report to their direct boss, who is, as well, obligated to report to another further up in the pyramid.
The message I want to convey here is that the duties of one employee might be the responsibilities of another. As a result, we all are parts of a big system and with that it is almost impossible to point out only one sinner - snooper.

Keeping track on what the employees are doing during work hours appears necessary to a certain point. In particular, on those who have access to secrets that might cost the company a fortune both in tangible and intangible assets in case of loosing them.

Last but not least, as long as the corporate spying with the expensive soft wares’ help, is contributing with an added value to the company and with that to the whole society it is necessary, I believe.
So, snooping versus risking confidential information and consequently public safety? Clearly, snooping is the lesser of two evils.