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Scenario Two - Human Resources and Cyberspace
in the Workplace Issues
In this scenario, a typical company's employees interact online and offline.
The risks of an everyday electronic communication when it contains a biased or
hostile remark, prefers some kinds of personal communications over others and
allows people who are not trained in data management security and privacy to
oversee monitoring in the workplace is a loaded gun waiting to go off. Learning
how to spot the potentially dangerous situations and defuse them, or avoid them
altogether is essential. Cyber-risks, abuse and crime are all touched on in this
workshop. Participants are taught how to spot the issues early.
Even though Megacompany's Internet use policy prohibits the use of the
computers and network for personal purposes, it has long been accepted that
certain personal use is okay.
On a typical day, parents of Girl Scouts may be sending a broadcast e-mail to
employees notifying them that it's "cookie time" again and employees may be
e-mailing their orders. The company Weight Watchers meeting reminders are sent
weekly to all employee-members and a notice of the company's Weight Watcher
program is sent monthly to all employees.
Several employees review their personal e-mail and instant messaging accounts
from their work computers. They have installed the needed software from the
Internet and are using their passwords to protect access to these accounts.
Certain employees have been known for their great jokes and e-mails with fun
facts and suggested websites. On birthdays many employees send e-cards to each
other. Recently, given the increased use of picture phones, photos and short
videos are being shared.
Some employees have a fantasy football team and engage in competitions using
the company's name as the name of the fantasy team. Many are also downloading
music and software applications online to use on their work and, in some cases,
home computers.
Two members of the management staff have been engaging in cyberflirtation
with each other. One secretary is registered at an online dating service and
uses her work e-mail to do this. (She's married and doesn't want her husband to
find out about her online alter-ego.)
The delivery and mailroom staff have recently discovered the new secretary on
the fifth floor and have been sharing comments about her and online images they
think resemble her with each other.
Most of the employees have personal items delivered to them at work, since no
one is at home during the day to sign for them.
Some of the tech team are avid interactive gamers and frequent code and cheat
sites to find the latest patches and tips for improving their online gaming.
They also have used patches and code they found online to "unlock" trial
versions of software for their personal use on the workplace network.
Recently the corporation has installed a monitoring software to record
communications and online activities of all employees. The person responsible
for supervising the project and reviewing the logs was, until recently, in the
marketing department. This same person has a crush on a fellow employee and is
able to review his communications.
A number of employees are surfing porn sites and in some cases the images may
be of underage children. One employee, ready for retirement, has begun
communicating with someone he believes to be underage.
| 
Parry
Aftab, Esq., 
Marvel and
all character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of
Marvel Characters, Inc., and are used with permission. TM & © 2004 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. “Super Heroes” is a Co-owned registered
Trademark.