Some employees of the investment company Bridgewater Associates, owned by the famous American financier Ray Dalio, answered non-work calls in the woods near the office because they were afraid that their employer was listening in. However, they abandoned this practice after the publication of a new book by New York Times reporter Rob Copeland.
It’s no secret that some managers don’t want their employees to deal with personal issues during working hours, including answering calls from family or friends. It seems that the discipline at Bridgewater Associates, founded by investment magnate Ray Dalio, is also quite strict, Business Insider reports.
At least that’s what the book “The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend by financial reporter Rob Copeland.
According to him, James Comey, who later became the head of the FBI, was responsible for security in the company’s offices, and therefore there were many cameras in the premises. The employees were probably being monitored in real time.
The book also states that employees who left their workplaces found stickers on their computer monitors upon their return reminding them that they had not turned on the screensaver.
The company allegedly tracked keystrokes, printouts, and photocopies, hid recording devices in light fixtures, and required that every email attachment sent by employees be individually approved, Copeland writes.
It is not surprising that employees tried not to say too much and went to the woods near the office to make personal calls. At home, they even removed the batteries from their work phones so that they wouldn’t be overheard.
However, the walks to the forest stopped thanks to Copeland. He also writes that Bridgewater Associates is allegedly considering installing devices on trees that can intercept calls.
The company did not deny that it asked employees to leave their personal mobile devices in lockers whenever possible and not to use them during working hours. It also turned out to be true that people did leave their offices to answer personal calls, even though the company provided a break room where they could be completely alone. However, the information about “total surveillance” was not confirmed. As well as methods of measuring productivity, such as recording keystroke intensity, which are also discussed in the book. The company added that it had no intention of installing tracking devices on trees.
According to the publication, Dalio himself questioned the veracity of the book and advised to take it for what it is – a not-so-accurate bestseller for people who love gossip.
