Now more than ever bosses are watching their employees like a hawk. But this is for an important reason: they want the most productive employees for big business. Revenue is the most important factor in a company's livelihood.

Companies are in business to make money, and managers want productive employees. Concerns over litigation and keeping company secrets also drive spying, according to the 2007 Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Survey released in February 2008 by the American Management Association (AMA).

Now let's look at some ways in which your boss and your company may be tracking your productivity and your overall work habits. First up is the ID card that is granted to most every employee.

The ID card that grants you access to your company's building may have a radio transmitter embedded in it. This is kind of a scary thought. Your assigned card (issued by 52% of employers) gives the boss the ability to verify when you arrive and leave... even how long you stay on a coffee break.


If you are issued a company cell phone, be sure it is used strictly for business purposes. Your company can track calls that are made that are obviously personal ones. Electronic billing makes building call data spreadsheets a snap, and these easily reveal non-business calling patterns. Tip: save that call to your hubby for your breaks or for after work.

Another hot button is your company computer. Everything you do on your company computer can be tracked, and nearly half of companies surveyed are tracking and saving this data. Tip: use the company email and the internet for business purposes only. Create an email account (they are free) for personal use to be checked only when you are "off the clock" or at home.

A shocking statistic is that 28% of surveyed employers fired workers for e-mail misuse. Of those fired, 62% were canned for inappropriate or offensive language, 26% for excessive personal use, and 22% for breaking office confidentially rules.

Using these tips can mean a night and day difference for you at work. By realizing that you are there to work and saving the goofing off for breaks and for after work, you may also find that you're more promotable from your manager's point of view.



Dan Olson writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.