Based on 226 community votes, the most popular answer to “Should I Take a Promotion That Involves Spying?” is “Accept the promotion and monitor coworkers” — chosen by 14% of voters.
Category: work • Theme: Career Ambition vs Workplace Trust
I’ve worked at the same tech company for five years, mostly as an analyst. Late last week, my manager called me into her office and, after some small talk, offered me a promotion. The catch? The job would involve quietly monitoring some of my coworkers' activity—things like work-from-home hours, time spent on projects, and in some cases, reporting back if I suspect anyone is slacking or breaking policy. The company says it’s to maintain fairness and productivity, and the pay bump would actually help a lot with my bills right now. I’ve never been ‘management material’ before, and this feels like the break I’ve been working toward. But honestly, the thought of reporting on my coworkers makes me uneasy. I have a decent relationship with most people on my team—even some friendships. It feels like I’d be betraying that trust if I start watching their every move, even if I don’t want to. On the other hand, if I say no, I might not get another shot at moving up for a long time, and I don’t want to be labeled as unambitious. Part of me wonders if someone else will just do the job anyway, maybe less discreetly, and my hesitation won’t actually protect anyone. This whole thing is weighing on me. Do I put my own advancement over my workplace relationships? Or turn down something that could change my future, just because the role makes me uncomfortable? What would YOU do?
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