A
man was sacked after installing software on his manager’s computer that
revealed it was used for little more than playing games on a daily basis,
according to a local newspaper. The boss, meanwhile, was let off with a written
warning.
Vernon
Blake, an employee at the US Alabama Department of Transport, was given his
marching orders even though the ‘spyware’ he installed proved that his boss
spent an average of 70 per cent of his time playing Solitaire.
In
contrast, Blake’s manager, George Dobbs, was given a written warning that read:
"While your work ethic and your production are above reproach,
management-level personnel must be mindful not to compromise their ability to
manage subordinates."
‘Spyware’
gives the person who installs it a web-based interface that displays summaries
of information that was logged on the computer on which the software is
installed, according to software firm Symantec.
Experts
said the information Blake had access to could easily have been of a sensitive
nature. The access to it may not only have breached company rules, but
will probably also have broken the law.
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