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Company installs productivity tracking software that screenshots employees' computers every 10 minutes: ‘But they say can't afford raises anymore’

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  • Man in White Long Sleeve Shirt Using Computer.
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  • My company installed productivity tracking software that screenshots our computers every 10 minutes but says they cant afford yearly raises anymore

    So this week our IT department rolled out some new "productivity monitoring tool" that literally takes random screenshots of whatever is on your screen throughout the day.
  • They announced it in a super casual email like it was no big deal. Couple weeks ago we got an email from HR saying that due to "budgetary constraints" the annual merit increases are being suspended indefinitely.
  • The timing is just perfect right? I've been at this place for 4 years and every year its the same story.
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  • Oh we had a tough quarter, oh the markets uncertain, oh we need to be more lean.
  • Meanwhile our CEO just posted on linkedin about the record company's breaking revenue growth and I saw him pull up to the office last month in a new mercedes.
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  • So now I get to have big brother watching my screen while I make poverty wages.
  • Love that for me. And imagine they expect us to keep our cameras on during zoom meetings too even though half of us work from home.
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  • Like what are you gonna do, make sure I'm actually sitting at my desk? I've got a few months worth of expenses saved up so I'm seriously considering just walking.
  • This job used to be tolerable but between the surveillance state cosplay and the wage freeze I dont know how much longer I can pretend to care about this place.
  • A Man Having a Phone Call while Working on His Computer.
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  • FIRE_flying Make sure you have another job lined up first! And then walk. If you're not happy, don't try to fake it.
  • cheesesleaze Try to get another job first or keep heavily investing in savings before making the final jump, this market is rough and I would hate for this company's unethical decisions to affect your personal livelihood. Absolutely make sure this is brought up in your exit interview and review them on glassdoor/whatever else though
  • BisquickNinja In this case their productivity trackers are just looking for any reason to get rid of you. They had similar software when I worked for Boeing and the kid that was gambling at work (but whose father was an executive) got no repercussions. However, me who was listening to music on my phone was nearly fired. Never mind I took their program from 2 years behind schedule to 2 days behind schedule in 10 months. Search for a new job and then quit with no notice.
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  • PCouture If its your personal computer you can deny it. These new tools arent about productivity. Your training an agent to secretly replace you by generation training data.
  • EManSantaFe Take that LinkedIn post into HR and ask for a good reason for no raises. Like the wonderful new tracking software?
  • illumnat Hate this s . Am I getting the work done that I'm responsible for? Yes? Then just leave me the f alone!
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  • Disastrous-Comfort-9 Get the other job first. I deal with this exact scenario and its s
  • a_Vertigo_Guy So now they're gonna have to pay somebody to look at all those screen caps?
  • Known_Experience_794 Believe me when I tell you this.. The IT department didn't want to do this in the first place. It's usually driven by the C-Suite and/or HR. Usually it's to make sure they are squeezing every minute out of the employees. And/or, it's for gathering long term evidence to fire anyone at any time.
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  • SomeSamples Go out on the web and find others who are using that same software and what they do to circumvent it. Definitely find a new job. But don't leave until you do or until they fire you.

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