I've heard from other team members that they're being looked at if they mentioned the word "Text". They have to answer 2 questions and provide screenshots of their text messages to prove it wasn't about work. Has this happened to anyone? If it's true, what happens if you no longer have the texts to provide as evidence?
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I know someone in another group that happened to. Don't ever put the word 'text' in Teams or they'll be up yours.
Yes, the email states it is "surveillance" and includes a copy of the email you sent that triggers the alert. Your manager is also included. I had one last week after I told someone to call or text me if they needed me. It was my WF issued phone, I answered the questions and moved on.
However, I have colleagues who have had to provide screenshots of personal phone text conversation to "prove" WF and/or customer information was not discussed via text.
Do not use the word "text" in any WF communication and for sanity, avoid texting ANYTHING even remotely work related.
This is a weird company.
People on my team, especially our manager, are constantly posting in our group chat in Teams "driving home, text me if you need anything" and "heading out for the night, if there's any problems just call". No one on my team has ever had an issue or been investigated for it.
I posted a couple of months ago a bunch of things that could get you flagged on teams. “Complaint”, “call me”, “trouble”, to name a few. And was downvoted for some reason.
This happened to me a couple of times. I refused to send the screenshots because I was quitting that hellscape after my bonus. Nothing happened.
I wonder if they flag "s-xting". This might get some of the executives under radar. lol
I don't think that's what OP and others are saying. Colleagues I know are getting asked about something they've said months ago. To ask for proof of texts that no longer exist is a challenge
Yes. Who asked for this policy? The SEC & a $200 million fine we got. Employees have to attest every quarter now that you are not using your phone for any business discussion. You have 10 days of notification to attest. Otherwise you go on a possible termination lis for cause. (No severance). It’s no joke. & yes they are reading texts & sweeping emails/teams for references to texting. Every firm In the industry is doing it now.
Who's idea is to ask for proof by sending screenshots of text messages? What if it's not available?
Yes, I used to work on internal investigations and one day they came with all those cases out of nowhere. Ridiculous. We didn’t even know what to ask! Embarrassing! If you write text you get flagged. Even if you have BYOD phone.
That made me smile a little bit.
I was told at least 6 months ago that WF is absolutely monitoring emails and teams messages for references to texting or communicating about work in non-official platforms. My manager said don't even send anything like "Hey I'll be out on PTO next so just text me if you need me." I don't what started it but they are definitely paying attention.
Personally received this some months ago. Had to “prove innocence” through screenshots of the text messages. Though they’ve scaled this down recently (colleague recently made an oopsie and typed “text” into Teams but didn’t get any alerts) since it was never not going to get a crazy amount of false positives.
Refer to any document as a text. Web pages, spreadsheets, and emails are all texts that you can send and read.
Can they subpoena your phone if you don't have the texts anymore? Some people don't save their text messages
Mention text, take a picture of your junk and send it to them
JFC.
The solution obviously is to flood the chat streams with false positives. Denial of service attack. Tell your friends.
Yes. Some people in my team were flagged