Keeping track of cyberslackers becoming common in the workplace

In an era in which workers with Internet connections have found ever more ways to amuse themselves -- from feeding their EBay obsession to instant messaging their buddies -- employers have also found new technological tools to put a damper on such diversions, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Electronic monitoring and data collection has become more widespread since Sept. 11, 2001.

FaceTime of Foster City sells software to keep track of instant messaging, which CEO Kailash Ambwani says is increasingly being used in business but which typically has few of the protections associated with e-mail.

Nextel is selling cell phones with global positioning systems that privacy advocates say could be used to track employees in the field. Nextel spokesman Rich Pesce said that the service is not designed to spy on employees and that the workers could turn it off if they don't want the boss to see where they are.

Related articles:

-- New Offering Keeps Tabs on Mobile Workers

-- Big Boss is watching

-- Big Brother Technology for Employee Cell Phones

emily | 2:20 PM | Localisation |
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