How does the system distinguish between productive and non-productive activity?
Applications and websites are classified by the employees themselves through our unique automated system, with managers able to review and approve or amend these classifications as required. We provide a 'starter set' of definitions for easily categorised domains such as Hotmail, YouTube and MySpace.
Surely some Internet usage is ambiguous. For example, use of a search engine site may be for work or non-work purposes. How does the system deal with this?
Time spent on different applications or on different Web domains can be classified as wholly productive, wholly non-productive or split between the two.
How accurate is the monitoring?
Our system monitors only the usage that takes place in the active window. Having multiple windows open on the screen at any time is not a problem. However only PC-based activities are covered and you should be mindful that many employees spend part of their working day away from their PC (for example, in meetings).
Will it record activity outside normal working hours?
You can set your own monitoring hours. Activity outside these times is not monitored. Hence you can monitor 24x7, or just Monday-Friday during core hours, or any other times you choose.
We have shared computers that can be used by many different people. Is this a problem?
No. Users are identified by their login – not by machine.
What about activity that takes place on a laptop when it is not connected to a network?
Information is logged locally and uploaded to the server the next time network access becomes available.
How do you ensure employee privacy is maintained?
The client application only records the information it needs. Key strokes, screenshots, email content and instant messaging transcripts are never captured.
We would like to provide our employees with the ability to work privately if they need to do so. Can you support this?
Yes. Our client software includes a feature to give employees 'private' time, during which the details of their activities are not recorded. Private time is normally classified as unproductive.
What is the legal position on monitoring at work?
The Data Protection Act 1998 states that employers have the right to monitor their employees at work, including use of the Internet. Employers must ensure that their employees are clearly informed of any monitoring in advance, ideally through a well-maintained and publicised Acceptable Use Policy. Covert monitoring is not allowed, except for in some extreme circumstances, such as suspected criminal activity. Temperus is an open and transparent system. It relies on the active involvement of employees, and cannot be run in secret.
Can you support thin client (terminal server) access?
Yes. The client works with all common Terminal Server applications.
Is it Windows Vista compliant?
Yes.
Is it secure?
Yes. All communication with the server is encrypted to ensure confidentiality.
What reports are available?
A wide range of reports are available. You can view a sample of them, along with some other screenshots here.
If you have any further questions, please contact us.