Big Brother lives (and he is in your neighborhood)….
So many times we hear that employers are tracking us…checking what we email, where we call, where we go….but I always think that it really isn’t happening in companies that I know….Specifically, with employees that are clocking way over 40 hours a week, spending 2-3 nights out each week for the company and generally bleeding the company colors. Well, it is happening here. I just had a company ask me not to email their employees (even though I was looking for a referral – not looking to recruit the employee – I placed that person and do not recruit from companies that I recruit for). When I asked if the employee received the email on their company email – since I have tried to send my emails to personal addresses when I can – the answer was “no, her Yahoo account”. I called the employee to ask why she would forward this email…she says she didn’t. She said that she appreciated the emails and had forwarded them to friends and that she knew I was not trying to recruit her. So if she didn’t send the company the email, how did they get it????? Big Brother.
So the net, net, net is…..do not check your personal email on your computer – especially if you use Outlook to manage your emails. They (the collective, the borg) have access, and sadly, are willing to use it. Think about this.
Should employees notify their managers if a recruiter is in contact with them?
There are many “anti poaching” strategies that companies are employing in order to prevent employee turnover. One is to ask all employees to forward any recruiter emails/voicemails (personal emails as well….) to management. Sounds like a good idea? There will always be headhunters, newspaper ads, monster, career breaker- I mean builder, letters, etc. Should the company be focused on the other opportunities that their employees might find tempting or should they focus on the real issues….like, pay, respect, promotional opportunity, environment, fun, 401k plans, employee stock plans, etc.? I can tell you that the same manager that you are forwarding the email to is not forwarding his emails or headhunter calls. Why is that? Because he has been around and understands that those relationships could be very important to him. He could get the ax (or is it axe?) tomorrow. We all know that we can’t expect privacy on our work email, but is our personal email any of their business?
Also, is every contact with a recruiter one where they are trying to lure you away? What if they placed you at that company and value the quality of their work (wanting the highest ratio of longterm placements, very low turnover, many promotions)? What if the recruiter is sending you the email because you may know the candidate they are looking for (and said candidate does not work for your company)? Should that email be forwarded to management?
Now, I know where this can all go to….but this is hard on employee productivity. We need to reduce interruptions. Most of my contacts are already working well over 40 hours a week and typically won’t see an email from me or hear a voicemail until well past 5 pm. So I don’t think that answers the question. Is this what management should be monitoring, will this lower turnover, will it increase production? No.
Do you think your manager forwards his contacts from recruiters?
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?
(Who is guarding the guards? Who watchs the watchmen?)
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