Whether you’re working at home, in an office, or a little of both, chances are good that if you use a company-owned computer, your employer is monitoring what you do on it. Since we last covered what not to do on your work computer, in 2019, the use of “bossware” has become even more widespread. In one survey, as many as 60% of employers report using some kind of tracking software to monitor keystrokes, take screenshots, activate webcams or mics, or log how much time employees spend in various apps and websites. And in most companies, there still aren’t many employee protections regarding this software’s use.
Most people understand that their employer can access just about everything they do digitally on any services it runs—Slack, Gmail, Teams, or any other, similar tools—especially on a company-issued laptop. But since there are no federal laws concerning these monitoring tools, employees can know about their presence in only a few states. As of May 7, 2022, employers in New York now have to give new employees notice if the company monitors email, internet usage, or telephone conversations. New York joins just two other states, Connecticut and Delaware, with similar laws. Meanwhile, a proposed California law to address the issue, specifically through drawing boundaries around workplace monitoring and employee tracking, was withdrawn in April before it was voted on.
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