BA spied on staff
 

Is it not common for companies to monitor communications on company owned computers?

BA spied on staff
 

Really is murky territory and the law needs to be more transparent. I've always been of the mindset that company property (phones, laptops and tablets) should be treated with caution.

Anything I want to keep to myself or private has been used on my own devices. Sad state of affairs nowadays where you can't trust any organisation. Have a feeling we will see much more of this over the coming years.

Yes, it is. OTOH, BA did NOT say it monitored ONLY company-owned computers and phones. I suspect that if it had, it would not have paid out any money...

If they had the facility to listen in or eavesdrop do you not think they would be remiss to not do so on a company phone? It's theirs to do with as they please. You do company business on a company phone. You do personal/union business on personal phones... End of!

Likewise.

Unfortunately in the UK even work related information handled in that manner can end up in the company's hands..not through interception but by virtue of the legal process surrounding an Industrial dispute, as the BALPA reps involved in the "Open Skies" dispute found out. Maybe the UNITE reps should have learnt from that slip up.....

This was not posted from my company iPad or from on company property :E

Absolutely 100% false.

Did BA advise/warn staff that monitoring was a possibility? Surely if it was their intention then staff should have been told. Does the same apply to desk-tops in offices? One hears stories throughout the office world of how much surfing is done by staff during the working day. It could be during lunch/break times, but it is still on company equipment.
It's not quite so simple. Thus it needs to be clarified. Think what the reaction was to the idea of cockpit cameras. This isn't quite the same, but people like to protect privacy, but as others have said why not separate private and company toys.

Very grey area
 

I do know of a case of phone bugging within the NHS, a doctor had his hospital internal phone bugged by the managment. It would seem that this is not illegal as long as it Is only the internal phone.

What followed was legal action by the BMA on patient confidentially issues, it never got as far as court but the NHS manager was fired and the doctor was paid a great deal of money to take early retirement.

My guess is BA found themselfs in the same grey area and decided not to take the risk of getting this into the public eye with a court case that they might not win ( despite not having the to contend with the doctors rock solid confidentiality issues)

Am I the only one who has noticed how much more active Pprune is during the working week?:hmm:

To my knowledge the company always had the right to monitor individuals who were using company equipment, particularly computers, as far as I remember, it was strictly forbidden to use SITA, later e-mail, for private use. For the latter there were good reasons, particularly during the Christmas season when " artists " created illustrated messages. The right to monitor was never put in question. It was not allowed to monitor external calls if the line was a telecom ( public ) line, it could only be tapped by court order and only by the police.

My understanding was that simply..
Is what you are using the computer/ communications for part of you role ?
If not were you instructed to do so by a superior ?
Otherwise your actions are not allowed.

Local variation might be allowed. e.g. surfing during lunch break.

It was also suggested that would you be happy for anything you have typed be on public display ? e.g. comments about a customer .

Who cares if they spied... seems that is in on the wrong thread and on the wrong forum

And now, from another "source" :rolleyes:.....

British Airways denies 'paying £1m compensation to staff over spying claims' | Daily Mail Online

Agreed.

So, some people think they are allowed to use company equipment and accounts for their own personal benefit, or even for anti-company purposes without the possibility of company monitoring or sanction? It would be misuse at the leas, theft at worst, and the company has every right to monitor the use of its equipment, whether we like it or not. I see the same at my company where many of the youngsters are deeply upset at the rule that they're not allowed to install their own files or software on the EFBs, despite the company's explanation of why the Authority prohibited it. I don't understand the mentality behind such a sense of entitlement.

Nor do I. You do have to be a bit thick to use a company facility, whether tangible or electronic, for anything which could be used against you.

Cathay had, at Kai Tak, and still have, a company bar frequented by 'suits'.
Many a career has been compromised or terminated due to ill considered comment whilst 'relaxed'. Not all managers share the line pilot's sense of humour :p

Basil sums it up in a nutshell.

Most people employed by a company of any reasonable size (i.e. anything with a full-time HR rep or department) will no doubt find that if they bothered to read their employment contracts, they would no doubt find words along the lines of "company facilities are company facilities, your usage may be monitored or subject to investigation". People would also do well to read their company's ICT policy.

Quite frankly, people who are subject to optional monitoring should be eternally grateful they don't work in a regulated industry where everything you say on the work phone is recorded and everything you email is securely stored in a read-only tamper-proof archive.

Buy a smartphone or a tablet out of your own pocket and your own SIM card, and use that for any private purposes. Do not use any of the company infrastructure, INCLUDING WIFI for your personal use !

Soopers Charter
 

Best to assume that someone, apart from the intended recipent(s), is always listening/reading when making phone calls, and sending out texts and emails.

Once a letter is posted, an email sent, a phone call recieved and recorded, etc., the recipient can do what they like with it. Comments and opinions can go further than intended. Many come unstuck this way.

If it's private or confidential, go in the bathroom, make sure there's water running and say it quietly.

Do not use any of the company infrastructure, INCLUDING WIFI for your personal use !

A reminder of a story a few years ago: does that include charging your mobile phone using company electricity?

Didn't think compensation to staff was ever an issue, the payment was paid, (or so I thought), to the union. :confused: