The open office culture, where cubicles are reduced to rows of computers crammed against each other to conserve space, usually perpetuates the 'peeping-tom' syndrome, where an employee's private matters, right from their web browsing records to personal files, become subject to public display. Not many appreciate their privacy being breached at the workplace, especially since employees spend most of their waking hours at work.
However, most employers, in a bid to optimise the office space, tend to overlook an employee's concern for privacy.
PRIVACY FOR PRODUCTIVITY
An open environment at office poses as an invitation to nosy colleagues who are ever ready to invade one's privacy. In many cases, this may hamper productivity. Apoorv Houzwala, who started out his career as a copywriter in the advertising industry, recounts, "I never liked the idea of someone sneaking up on me and peering into my laptop screen or into my notepad while I am busy with work. And many a time I have encountered peers who tend to linger, constantly keeping an eye on what I do. While I managed to leverage their behaviour to throw ideas around or discuss a project, at most times, they only made me conscious about my work, not allowing me to put in my best effort." Indeed, safeguarding one's possessions and work from onlookers is every professional's wish. Simple measures like setting up a lock screen when not on desk, setting a personal password to one's gadgets like their laptop or phone or locking drawers are ways in which you can help you maintain privacy. Even a simple task like keeping one's desk free of clutter helps in his regard. A clear desk will give no opportunity to snooping eyes to dig into open papers, note books, diaries or other documents, content of which one wouldn't want to share.
Also, while one expects his or her privacy to be respected by others, the same needs to be practised. It is a must for employees to practice basic etiquette such as not opening a colleague's files and desk drawers without their consent.
PRIVACY FOR PERSONAL WELL-BEING
Privacy at the workplace, predominantly refers to the ability of employees to keep certain information to themselves. This includes information pertaining to or documents such as credit history, bank account details, information about their financial assets or something more personal, such as, a persons political opinions, membership with trade unions and other associations, religious and sexual preferences, health related information, etc. Thus, the onus is on the company to ensure that such sensitive personal information is handled appropriately.
At most information-driven companies, data privacy control is also an issue. Mukesh Jain, AVP at the corporate finance department of a private bank opines, "In the name of protecting data and preventing leakage of sensitive information, companies impose strict access controls on internet surfing. This practice, although justified by company on grounds of IT security, curbs privacy of trusted employee. It sends out a negative message to employees that is often understood as the company not trusting them and is more comfortable by implementing such access controls."
Clearly, employee motivation and a trust factor depend on how privacy controls are applied by the management.
Offering an employer's point of view, Puja Ashwin Kumar, consultant, Nimbus HR, says, "Professional background checks are important, especially during recruitment. In general too, to know how employees have performed in their previous roles and how well they fit in the company culture, it is often important to dig out personal information that the candidate may not necessarily want to share --that of family, health issues, past personal conduct, etc. But information collected by employers must not violate an employee's privacy.It is also important to note that companies usually keep the information confidential by policy." However, concluding appropriately, she says, "After all, a balance between a company's aspiration and a candidate's privacy needs to be maintained."
By Maulik Chandarana
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