Manager's Hot Seat #1-Burned by the Privacy Firewall - Essay Example

Teacher Burned by the Privacy Firewall If I were the manager in the scenario, I would have intervened in the punitive action taken against him and will subsequently review the policy that involves the use of company’s communication devices such as cellphone and internet. I believe that the existing policy is very prone to abuse as implementing managers just peer review anyone’s communication on record at will and could even impose administrative action on whim. This is dangerous because it might drive the company’s best people away especially those who are doing well.

In the case of Willy, I would have refrained from immediately putting him on administrative leave which is a euphemism for suspension. I would have instead first asked him to explain why the personal and long distance calls through a proper channel which is to course through his superior who is the other lady in the video. Willy’s explanation must be taken into account because he is a performer in the company. In addition, any administrative meted against Willy must also be made known to his superior first.

Also, the threshold of what constitutes excessive calls must be clearly established. It should not just be based on a mere whim such as in the video. If an employee asks for the threshold and his or her record, it should be made available to him or her to review company use of equipment. In the video, the policy was clearly abused because even Willy’s superior was subjected to review and cannot ask for her record or the threshold of calls. The concrete action that I would take is to recall Willy’s administrative leave and have it reviewed.

I will also review the policy and make the threshold of company’s communication equipment very concrete and clear.