Companies Monitoring Phone, Computer Use

Nearly three-quarters of major U.S. companies keep tabs on their employees’ telephone and computer use, including review of e-mail, Internet practices and computer files, according to a survey by the American Management Assn. The AMA, which surveyed more than 2,100 companies, said growth of employee surveillance has been “explosive” in the last two years. The number of firms with surveillance programs has doubled since 1997, when the management development organization began the annual survey. Nearly 55% of employers said they monitor their employees’ Internet connections, and 38% said they review e-mail messages. Larger companies are more likely to monitor employee activities, the AMA said. The financial services industry was the most watchful, with 73% of respondents monitoring Internet connections and 55% reviewing e-mail.