'It feels invasive': Manager requests remote access to employee's personal computer during meeting, employee refuses

Welcome to another toxic workplace in which a manager thinks he has way more power than he does! In this case, we have a new horrible boss who doesn't understand how to gain access to his team's project. Rather than admit he needs help to gain said access, he has been forcing various team members to grant him remote access to their personal computers during Zoom meetings. Now that this Redditor is the next one on the team who is expected to do this, he is dreading the meeting.

Let's break down why this manager's expectations are beyond inappropriate. For starters, this is not someone's work computer we're talking about here. This is their personal computer… the same personal computer that includes text messages and search history. The Redditor also revealed that this search history prominently features several job websites, as he has been mass applying to other positions and does not want that information to be revealed to his manager (understandably).

As several folks in the comments section below suggested, OP is well within his right to deny his manager that remote access. He can explain that it's his personal computer and is not only uncomfortable doing this but he is also not required to do this, as this action is not specified anywhere in his contract. Furthermore, the employee can go a step further and set up a meeting with either IT or the office manager to help his boss gain access to the project on his own device. That level of initiative may be a win-win for everyone involved.

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Posted by BenWeiss