Workplace privacy?

[orbsvfp]

How much can you expect? I work in a small office with 6 other people, recently it has been discovered that our boss has been going through our offices and rummaging around in our desks. What he could find in my pile of garbage to interest him I haven't got a clue! One girl however had filled out a job application for another company and this is what got back to us.

My question is; should there be a reasonable expectation of some personal space in the office or is everything brought into and done at the office available to management?

By the way, yes he also goes through our e-mail and monitors our web usage and I know there is nothing unusual about that. Hope he likes TBN as much as I do!

 

[pennwalk]

Your boss has WAYtoo much free time. Maybe someone should find him some work to do.

Chris

 

[Thomas]

Time for heavy duty mouse trap.

 

[EddieWalker]

If I owned the company and you were all working for me in my building, than yes, I'd feel it was ok to look through the desk of my employees if I felt the need. Obviously he's worried about something. Did that person fill out the job application while he was paying her to work?

Eddie

 

[chucko]

I would say having a job app for somewhere else at where your working now is asking for truble.
Frankly I "expect" no privacy when I am at work but I still make it to TBN

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Your boss has the legal right to search your desk (though not your coat or your pockets without your permission). It's his desk after all.

I'll say it's a little shoddy of him to actually do it, but he may have a good reason. Still, it shows a lack of trust. Personally, I'd ask him about it in a non-confrontational way. "Was there something you were looking for? Perhaps I can help you find it."

Cliff

 

[Highbeam]

Always assume you have no privacy at work. Never write anything down that you wouldn't want printed in the news and website usage must never drift onto questionable sites.

My desk drawers are empty except for pens.

The best offense is a good defense. This boss is putting himself into an enemy position and his staff's morale will suffer.

 

[MossRoad]

How much can you expect? I work in a small office with 6 other people, recently it has been discovered that our boss has been going through our offices and rummaging around in our desks. What he could find in my pile of garbage to interest him I haven't got a clue! One girl however had filled out a job application for another company and this is what got back to us.

My question is; should there be a reasonable expectation of some personal space in the office or is everything brought into and done at the office available to management?

By the way, yes he also goes through our e-mail and monitors our web usage and I know there is nothing unusual about that. Hope he likes TBN as much as I do!

When I worked at the airport back in the mid 80's, the owner of the company bought one of those new-fangled computers so the flight instructors could keep track of their hours, their student's progress, plane rental fees, etc... he also bought a nice TV and a VCR so they could watch training videos. And he bought a flight simulator... the real deal that you sat in and flew IFR training missions in. Not cheap stuff back then.

One night he came in and found the following:
The secretary was tying her resume' on the computer, a flight instructor was watching porno on the VCR and another was letting his friend rack up time on the flight simulator with the hour meter disconnected.

It took a few days to find people to fill those three positions.

Point is, the place and stuff in it belongs to someone else, as does your time there when being paid. Check with your company owner before using his stuff for your private use.

 

[randy41]

this is just another shortcoming of a desk job.

 

[Bird]

this is just another shortcoming of a desk job.

It's not just desk jobs. Bosses can, and sometimes do, search lockers, vehicles, etc. in addition to desks. And it's really nothing new. I worked in the Dallas Post Office from 1959 to 1964 and everyone knew there were enclosed catwalks with one way mirrors everywhere so you never knew when a supervisor or postal inspector was up there watching you. I think it's foolish for anyone to have anything at his/her place of employment that he would mind the boss seeing.