Kirby profile picture
Kirby profile picture

Kirby

Sales Representative

Politicker
Acclaimed Answer
Opinionated
+5

Is this level of micromanagement normal?

I started a new AE role, and my work laptop has a time tracker on it. If I'm inactive for more than a few minutes, it stops the timer.

If I even have YouTube Music on in a tab, it labels that time as "unproductive time." It takes random screenshots and sends them to my manager.

I am required to work 8 hours a day, no more, no less. And as a final kick in the pants, for the first several years, I only get 1 week of PTO per year.

And I can't install anything (not even Zoom) without an IT person taking remote control of the laptop to install it. 

Is this normal at all? (I'm not asking if it's good management, it clearly isn't in my opinion. But is this common?)
🎯 Career Development
🤠 Culture
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33 comments

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fuzzy
Notable Contributor
12
CMO (Chief Meme Officer)
New Bravado idea: Company blacklists. Because I want to know what fucking company is doing this and to avoid them forever.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I want this to happen. And for it to be pinned.
UserNotFound
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Yo... you're on to something with this.
AlwaysBeHunting
Executive
0
Enterprise Account Executive
💯% agree with this!!!
thegrinch
Politicker
11
SDR
This is not normal at all. 99.99% of companies DO NOT DO THIS. Do yourself a huge favor and go work somewhere else. 
alecabral
Arsonist
4
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
Not being able to install software on your own is not as uncommon, but everything else on your list I have never heard about, and my first job ever was in a freaking call center back in the 90's, when it was all about productivity. Nop dude, that's neither normal nor good. I'd run away as fast as I could.
FeedTheKids
Politicker
1
Solutions Consultant
^ 2x
sales7
Politicker
2
Commercial Product Enablement
quit. run. get out of there!
goose
Politicker
2
Sales Executive
This is not common.  Good luck.
Incognito
WR Officer
2
Master of Disaster
Not normal for my industry - my last firm DID track clicks and whatnot but there was no “timer” (that I’m aware of). It also very much depended on the particular office. An office in New England would absolutely complain if you weren’t doing input into the CRM (and therefore making calls) at specific times. My old office would not, but they were very disorganized. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
What the frickity frack? NO THIS IS NOT NORMAL. 🤬
barney2021
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
That is sooo strange! I usually see the installation from IT from enterprise companies
LordBusiness
Politicker
1
Chief Revenue Officer
Yeah, I'm going to say no...not common and quite ridiculous actually. 
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Leave now and tell your coworkers to do the same. Holy shit.

I used to joke that if someone is watching my productivity time I'm already fired. There's no reason for this in sales (or any job). Metrics are pretty clear regardless of my actual day
signandrecline
Catalyst
1
Enterprise Sales
YO GTFO RIGHT NOW! 
Broncosfan
Politicker
1
Account Manager
I would leave so fast. That sounds like an absolute miserable existence.
justatopproducer
Politicker
1
VP OF SALES -US
Hahahah welcome to fortune 500 friend! Its more normal in the larger the company. Im in the same boat as you, except tools like zoom or anything aren’t allowed tk be downlaoded unless we speak to the compang like zoom and have them add addendums to their legal before i can download. Also, its annoying as heck. Sorry you’re dealing with it. I have been also for about 2 years now and I can say the micromanaging of everything i do or don’t do and how it changes constantly has ruined my life. Ive never worried about activity, staying productive, or even goals given to me by my employer because ive always blown them away. Now, its all i think about. Save yourself the misery and go work anywhere else, regardless of how good the money is.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
I worked for a Fortune 6 company and they never did that, that doesn't sound normal at all. At least to that extent. 

I was in IT at the time, maybe its different in sales?
justatopproducer
Politicker
0
VP OF SALES -US
The number of people i know in all kinds of positions for fortune 500 companies have had this now and before covid. It is annoying but I have seen it. Either way, i dont recommend it.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
Well damn that sucks, i would be looking for another company quick if that was the case.
SaaSyBee
Politicker
1
Founder
This is the worst. So toxic. Not normal. Leave as soon as you can. 
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
1
☕️
Get out, now. That's incredibly intrusive. 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
1
SaaS Eater
I work for a company that values "accountability"  ahem micromanagement ahem and even this goes well beyond anything that has ever been put in place. 

Thats a recipe for an insanely toxic work environment, probably time to look elsewhere.                                                       
Sheriff
Politicker
1
Sales Trainer
Go find a new Job asap. This is Bezos level bullshit.
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
Not being able to install software on your own is not as uncommon, but everything else on your list I have never heard about, and my first job ever was in a freaking call center back in the 90's, when it was all about productivity. Nop dude, that's neither normal nor good. I'd run away as fast as I could.
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
1
ISR
New Bravado idea: Company blacklists. Because I want to know what fucking company is doing this and to avoid them forever.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
Yea I would be getting the hell outta there
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
0
Rolling 20's all day
That sounds like prison with extra steps... I would be making a swift exit as soon as possible. My condolences.
FlintIronstag
Notorious Answer
0
Chief Marketing Officer
Not normal.
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
May we all never work at this level of shit show.
SaaSam
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Came here out of curiosity from the other 2 related posts. All I can say is.. Holy shit
Wildcard
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
name the company
Kirby
Politicker
1
Sales Representative
Slashdot Media

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