Annoying Supervisor

Hi all, new here. Here's my story:

My supervisor is a complete tool that has it in for me. He's always rude and takes credit for my work, and he screws me at every opportunity (for example he saw to it that everyone in our section, even the new guys, got new computers except me. And I only eventually got one a couple months later cuz IT had an extra one). One time I caught him sneaking onto my computer when he thought I was going to be in a 1hr meeting. Ever since then, I've been locking my computer when I step away from my desk so that I'll know if he logs onto my machine or not.

Well today I noticed there's a profile on my new computer with his username in the "Documents and Settings" folder. It was created - get this - on my second day of vacation while I was out for a week two months ago. I don't remember seeing his logon username come up when I came back, so he covered up the fact that he was on my machine for some reason.

My question is, can anyone recommend some free software that will let me know if he gets on my machine, what he's putting on it, what he's taking off of it, what he's looking, etc. that kind of stuff? I keep a record of all the things he's done to harass me and I'd like to have as much evidence as possible. Thanks,

Frustrated worker

 

Why dont you just confront him about it and ask for his reason?

 

Well i do tell him when he does something I don't like that I don't like it, but that really doesn't stop him. "Talking" might work with a normal person who can be reasoned with, but he is not normal. I'm sure you know somebody who is just totally beyond reason and no amount of talking will make them act any different? Yeah, well, he's one of those people. Besides, I already know why he doesn't like me: when I first got hired I made the mistake of correcting him a couple times. He realized I knew more about the software we use then he did, and ever since then he's been "putting me in my place".

Upper management doesn't really care about any of us pee-ons, so all I can do is keep a record of what he does for myself in case I ever need it.

 

Unless you own the machine, we can't really reccomend anything.

Go to his boss, and take it up with him.

If you get caught using monitoring software on a work machine, you will be fired anyway, and it won't wont matter what evidence you have..

 

Yes, there are some managers who are like that. One survey concluded that a lot of people in managerial roles actually have a psychopathic personality.

How about making a report to the IT department, regarding your concerns / suspicions that security on your computer may have been compromised. It wouldn't be unreasonable for you to have these suspicions, particularly in light of the fact that you haven't been informed that anyone else has been using your machine or that another user account has been added to it. At least that way, this manager will probably find out that you know.

 

Actually I won't get fired for having monitoring software. I have all sorts of "unauthorized" programs on my computer (winamp, mbm, spybot S&D, etc.) but the IT guys are cool, they don't care if i do cuz I rarely have any computer problems. (In fact they are the ones that felt bad for me and got me authorized to get the new computer that was a spare). Anyways, I did check his files but i think he only looked at or copied files from my computer, he didn't put on anything on it.

So nooooooobody knows of any good apps that will let me know exactly what he's doing on my machine?

 

Yeah how's this for psycho:
When a couple new people got hired, I put in a request to upper management that the layout area across from me stay empty since my office is so small I don't have anywhere else nearby to lay out plans. When my supervisor found out about it, the next morning he waited until I got in and then spent two hours cleaning up and moving things around in the layout area across from me just to make me think my request was denied and they were going to move someone into that space anyways. I know cuz he actually went and bragged about doing it and how "brutal" he is.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3579402.stm

 

Nice guy... Keep collecting that evidence and if you're in a large enough organisation then having a confidential chat with an HR person may at least let you know what your rights are.

Ignoring the growing harassment case he isn't actually doing anything illegal. At work your PC and all data on it is the property of the company you work for, as a result your manager has the right to look at your work at any time.

Course, most managers don't waste their time doing this and most good organisations only allow management access to their teams PC's if they have a good reason to request access (to avoid harassment).

I'm basing this all on UK employment law so it may not be quite true where you are, probably not far off though.

Good luck!

 

IT is more likely your solution. Since you say they are cool and feel bad for you. Maybe they can put something on your computer to monitor the usage. Especially after you tell them that you think your security has been compromised. This way you are not the one installing the software.