ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

Woman Fired After Company Tracked Her Laptop Using Keystroke Technology

Keystroke technology is a tool to monitor and analyze the sequence and timing of key presses on a computer keyboard.
PUBLISHED APR 15, 2024
Cover Image Source: Unsplash | Photo by Magnet.me
Cover Image Source: Unsplash | Photo by Magnet.me

As the world navigates the post-COVID era, remote work has become an integral part of the professional landscape. With this shift, employers have embraced technological solutions to monitor and manage employee productivity. One such tool that has gained prominence is keystroke technology. However, the implementation of this technology has sparked debates around privacy, ethics, and the balance between surveillance and productivity.



 

Keystroke technology, at its core, is a tool used by companies to monitor and analyze the sequence and timing of key presses on a computer keyboard. Its primary objective is to provide employers with insights into employee activity, including software usage, task completion, and time allocation.

By monitoring keystrokes, employers aim to ensure adherence to company policies, prevent misuse of company resources, and mitigate security risks such as data breaches.

Image Source: Pexels|Photo by Anna Shvets
Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Anna Shvets

In the wake of remote work becoming the norm, some companies have adopted keystroke technology as a means to maintain accountability and productivity among their remote workforce. However, the widespread use of this technology has raised concerns regarding its impact on employee privacy and autonomy.

One particular case that brought these concerns to the forefront is that of Suzie Cheikho, a long-term employee of Insurance Australia Group (IAG). For nearly two decades, she contributed her expertise to the company, managing responsibilities ranging from generating insurance documents to meeting stringent regulatory deadlines.

Despite her long-standing commitment, her performance while working from home (WFH) became a point of contention, ultimately leading to her termination in February last year.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Suzie Cheikho (@mz_louisvuitton)


 

After 18 years of dedicated service, Cheikho found herself unexpectedly terminated based on data collected through keystroke monitoring. The company alleged discrepancies in her work hours, typing speed, and overall productivity, leading to her dismissal.

While employers have a legitimate interest in ensuring employee productivity and adherence to company policies, the invasive nature of keystroke monitoring raises questions about employee autonomy and privacy rights. Employees like Cheikho may feel unfairly targeted and scrutinized, leading to feelings of mistrust and resentment towards their employers.

Image Source: Pexels | Tima Miroshnichenko
Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

In response to her termination, Cheikho took to social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to voice her grievances and seek support from the online community. Her videos shed light on the emotional toll of losing a job under such circumstances and the challenges of navigating unemployment in the digital age.

"This has never happened to me before, and for what?" she said in a now-deleted video on TikTok. "Something that’s very emotional and very private, I never even spoke about it on social media. I’m literally getting harassed through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, like what do you want me to do? I can’t get a f**king job," she said.

According to allegations, Cheikho reportedly arrived late to work on 47 occasions, logged out early on 29 occasions, and fell short of her scheduled work hours for 44 days. Furthermore, there were four days where she did not record any work hours at all. Her average keystrokes per hour were reported to be only 54, indicating a level of productivity below expectations.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The instrument originally belonged to the guest's grandfather who suffered a horrific injury.
15 hours ago
The contestant's wife seemed embarassed at that point of time, and worried as well.
17 hours ago
The co-founders of Dino Don got the shark that they always wanted on board.
18 hours ago
One can understand why the measure is in place but the shopper was having none of it.
19 hours ago
"My husband and I definitely noticed it! We had to rewind it a few times," a fan reacted.
20 hours ago
All of the sharks agreed that she had a great product and the drive to be successful a businesswoman.
1 day ago
It's possible that the dog played a little part in making it easier for them to get a deal.
1 day ago
Without the help of his wife, the contestant would have gone home empty-handed.
1 day ago
The pawn store owner had a valid point since the item the guest had brought had numerous issues.
1 day ago
The contestant got the first part of the puzzle right but wasn't able to solve it in time.
1 day ago
"It's a lady's robe. A robe from 1750 is a very rare robe. The only other ones I know of this type, you'd have to go to Beijing," the appraiser said.
2 days ago
Harvey also got other hilarious answers, but nothing could match the woman's sass.
2 days ago
The Gronkowski family is famous for their contributions to America's sporting culture.
2 days ago
The expert said that the fossil was well preserved but still wasn't something extraordinary.
2 days ago
The expert revealed that the jewel was from the late-Victorian era with an exceedingly rare stone.
3 days ago
"I wouldn't have gotten this one at all. I only got "of the curve," but that was it," a fan said.
3 days ago
All of the other sharks said no to the entrepreneurs, but Mr. Wonderful saw value in the product.
3 days ago
The contestant might not have expected to even be on stage, let alone play such a great game.
3 days ago
Everyone in the studio loved the four-legged superstar who stole the show for a few seconds.
4 days ago
The founder of "Eat Your Flowers"just couldn't refuse the offer despite having others on the table.
4 days ago