Can your team manager read team messages where he wasn't included in the conversation?

[Boringmouse]

Just that really. He has access to my emails, does that extend to teams chat?

I suspect that management could, so it's more whether they would or not.

I try not to think about it too much 😄.

Yes, it does.

I can get access for my team if I request it. I have worked places where managers have automatic access.

Its always best to assume they do.

Would it be an ask IT situation for a transcript, or can he just click on somehow and see them?

Generally it’s an ask it situation,but depends on what rights he has.

why?

Oh no OP what did you write?

Yes - via Microsoft admin portal. They will need to log a ticket with IT to get access.

A good rule of thumb is not to say anything on Teams that you wouldn’t want your manager to read!

Not necessarily, depends on the admin rights and guest permissions.

Not in the same way as emails but specific chats could be retrieved by whoever manages the IT system. Usually only done to provide evidence for misconduct etc.

I tend to think people get carried away with teams thinking they are messaging their mates and forget it could all be read by IT. I would never put anything I didn’t want others to read but it’s surprising what other people type sometimes! We have an IT guy who uses the f-word all the time! Eg “Oh fuck sorry I didn’t fix it”. Doesn’t bother me but not very professional and other people could complain!

Quite a long standing email chat with my other colleagues excluding immediate TM and with a fair bit of moaning about his ineptness. He's not at all IT savy so praying on that!!

Just something separate thats come up today about reading our emails as he has access that made me have the 'oh shit if he has access to our emails dies that mean he has access to all our chat as well 🫣

Tbf he wouldn't use it 'against' us as its a log of his fuck ups and who he's upset/offended, but could make for a tricky atmosphere!

What a nightmare - WFH in 2024, and you can't even complain about work / management on Teams.

I mean, I do, but I shouldn't.

Yes they could and I am always mindful of this, but the reality is they won't as standard and I am 99.9% sure mine don't and only would in the event of some sort of very serious disciplinary situation. I see it as the equivalent of being overheard in the staff room.

However, this is is what swapping to WhatsApp with closer work colleagues is made for when working online.

We don't where I work and I line manage however we can request it so I would just be mindful what you write.

As a senior manager I don't ordinarily have access to the MS teams chats in my service areas teams messages and neither do the people I manage. However, of course we can access as needed via ICT but this would only be done if there was a clear rationale to do that and that would typically be if there was a complaint/concern about someone's conduct and some form of investigation underway (disciplinary/grievance etc)

Good rule of thumb is never put anything in writing that you don't want your manager to read. I doubt he's sat monitoring Teams chats but do it over the phone next time 😂.

Are your teams chats backed up to your email?

It is possible to have a folder in your inbox called 'Teams chats' where all conversations are automatically back up. If your workplace have that enabled then he would have access via your email account.

I think a good rule of thumb is never to use workplace communication for anything other than work related stuff if you don't want your employers to read it.

I wouldn't put any criticisms in writing that you didn't want someone else to read.

He probably has access if he wants it/ has reason to look, but most managers don't have time to be trawling Teams chats without good reason.

When email first arrived our IT guy said never put anything in an email that you wouldn't want on the front page of a newspaper. Last century but not a bad thought to hang on to.

Yes, I have informally chatted but never put anything I was not happy for others to read if it came to it

I can easily access everyone's everything in the business. Nothing is private so if you want privacy use personal devices.

Yeah, we use slightly coded language in messages and video call to really have a moan.