When office spies are a necessary evil
IT might be seen as a bad policy, but many employers ensure that they have some spies among employees to ‘oversee’ others.
By Roderick Ahimbazwe
IT might be seen as a bad policy, but many employers ensure that they have some spies among employees to ‘oversee’ others.
These “eyes and ears†ensure that the bosses get every piece of information about events and other proceedings within the organisation.
Paul Mujizi, a psychologist, says at times employers create a spy-network to avoid employee-unrest.
“This works best where there are workers unions that bring together all types of employees. Having spies ensures that the boss will get first-hand knowledge of whatever employees are planning,†Mujizi says.
He adds that having a spy, enables the boss to know his/her employees’ day-to-day lives.
Mujizi, however, argues that it is bad for an employer to try to know everything about employees.
“At times a boss will feel that his authority is undermined and will want to know who, or what caused such behaviour. The only way to do this is to ‘recruit’ one of the employees as a spy.â€
He says in institutions that are vulnerable to corruption, embezzlement and industrial espionage, the use of spies comes in handy to institute proper checks and balances.
According to Mujizi, at times employers might not need internal spies, but rather external spies. “This will help the organisation keep tabs on its competitors and have an advantage over them.â€
Mujizi, however, advises that having spies in an organisation should come as a last resort because it is not good.
“It is better that an open forum is put in place so that every person has a chance to speak, build ideas or know what is going on in the firm.
IT might be seen as a bad policy, but many employers ensure that they have some spies among employees to ‘oversee’ others.
These “eyes and ears†ensure that the bosses get every piece of information about events and other proceedings within the organisation.
Paul Mujizi, a psychologist, says at times employers create a spy-network to avoid employee-unrest.
“This works best where there are workers unions that bring together all types of employees. Having spies ensures that the boss will get first-hand knowledge of whatever employees are planning,†Mujizi says.
He adds that having a spy, enables the boss to know his/her employees’ day-to-day lives.
Mujizi, however, argues that it is bad for an employer to try to know everything about employees.
“At times a boss will feel that his authority is undermined and will want to know who, or what caused such behaviour. The only way to do this is to ‘recruit’ one of the employees as a spy.â€
He says in institutions that are vulnerable to corruption, embezzlement and industrial espionage, the use of spies comes in handy to institute proper checks and balances.
According to Mujizi, at times employers might not need internal spies, but rather external spies. “This will help the organisation keep tabs on its competitors and have an advantage over them.â€
Mujizi, however, advises that having spies in an organisation should come as a last resort because it is not good.
“It is better that an open forum is put in place so that every person has a chance to speak, build ideas or know what is going on in the firm.