*sigh* My company is having all their staff onboard onto this text-messaging application for all client calls & texts. Makes sense for those that deal with clients… but I'm supporting staff and don't talk or text anything business-related on my cellphone because my personal time is my time. Once I'm off the clock I don't talk business or with my coworkers.
My boss tends to work at all times of the day even while he's on vacation. The new guy is no different and so is the other supporting staff… Like I get it the job is chill and you care but damn. I'm not one to sign up for an extra workload when I'm guilt-tripped into it with the possibility of better pay… the raises are not worth the number of clients and extra work we do. So I do my assigned responsibilities and help where I can.
My coworker was telling me how the app was so cool and could wipe out a phone if lost or anything as long as compliance approves….that scares me…. I'm not comfortable allowing an app to monitor my text messages to make sure I don't talk business with the possibility of being wiped.. The webinar with more information didn't help either. I asked if supporting staff that doesn't talk to clients also needed to download it onto their cellphones and was told “Everyone is REQUIRED to adhere by the end of the year”…. ummm what?
I volunteer in other community organizations where I conduct business-related actions and I am scared that they will fine me for “talking business”. These organizations in no way relate to my job but with that app, my job will be able to monitor everything that I write down… so I don't want to download it. There are other options and like downloading a desktop version but wasn't given ANY information on that.
So like a good employee, I asked compliance for guidance on what to do:
Hi Name,
I’m in the seminar today on the topic but I’m still confused about what to sign up for? I don’t text any client or anyone in our office anything work-related. The only work-related applications on my phone are Outlook and Teams. [insert co-worker's name] was telling me how [NEW Software app] has the capability to wipe a phone’s entire information. If having those applications on my personal cellphone is a security issue, I can delete them. I’ve only used Teams to communicate with the team.
I don’t feel at all comfortable having a program that monitors my text messages with that capability on my personal hand-held device. Especially when our standard procedure is to always use the office line, during office hours, when talking to clients.
The response was:
[co-worker's name] gave you false information, and should not be spreading rumors. It can not and does not monitor or affect any other programs on your phone. The only thing it does it give [Company Name] the ability to archive and monitor business related text messages, which is why you’re required to have it.
Alternatively, you can sign up for [Another texting service] as an alternative. Please get with [compliance rep] or [other compliance rep] for information on how to do whichever one you choose to use. But everyone is REQUIRED to use one or the other.
[compliance signature]
I've been busy with other tasks so I though I would reply as soon as I can since there is a time crunch to stay compliant… oh no. That was not what my office had in mind. Compiance thought it was prudent to tell my boss and the office manager that I was not being compliant and that everyone needs to adhere. They forwarded or called the office manager and THEY called compliance to ask what was going on. Now during our team meeting the office manager brings it up as an issue that we need to get addressed and that if I need clarification on things I need to call compliance instead of depending on emails.
My boss goes on a rant on how I shouldn't have said my co-worker had told me that about wiping information and how if I had issues I should get them addressed but that everyone needs to be compliant…. my response has been that compliance gave me two people to reach out and that since the email was sent to us last week I have more than enough time to figure it out. I emailed compliance because we are busy, and since it's a compliance issue it's best to have confirmation for steps in writing…. they still got butt hurt and said that I shouldn't be spreading misinformation… my response was that for that reason I asked in a private one-on-one email because I don't want to spread false information. To which again my boss says that everyone needs to be compliant and that if I don't want to download I should say something…..My response was that I never said I didn't want to stay compliant, only that I need more clarification and that I have two people I'm going to reach out to as soon as I can. That is why I reached out to compliance for direction instead of asking in the chat during the webinar where EVERYONE would be able to read the chat..