Bosses spy on my sister with computer software

Further to companies secretly installing software to spy on staff working from home (Metro, Tue). My sister works for a London council in a benefits section. She was working from home long before the pandemic, only going into the office one day per week as the council shrank departments and offloaded real estate.

Now, of course, she works from home exclusively. From day one, she has had a system spying on her work. Her supervisor has a colour-coded system that stays green while she is working but goes orange if she stops using the computers.

It’s a time-related system with a five-minute break allowed for calls of nature etc.

So, for example, to make tea she boils the kettle, works, then makes the tea, works, then adds milk and sugar. Lunch breaks are booked with the supervisor.

I don’t know what happens if a red light goes on but staff have received

warnings based on this system. Talk about Big Brother! D, via email

Employers using technology to spy on staff working from home says a lot about the culture of these organisations. It suggests a climate of mistrust and fear, poor leadership and mismanagement.

Reputable companies know that if you manage by objectives, it doesn’t matter when or how staff achieve them, only that they are achievable and monitored through the appraisal system. What these companies don’t realise is that once the economy recovers, it will be the employers of choice that will be able to recruit the best staff. These firms will be way down the line. Marilyn Tyzack, Devon

Snooping? You are either working from home or not. If you check in at the office nine to five, your employer can see you are there. It’s simple, you are being paid!