A coworker received a message from the IT team asking about laptop performance issues, which raised some flags. Specifically, the IT team mentioned they received reports regarding the PC performance and wanted to check in on whether there had been any slowness affecting day-to-day work. Notably, only this coworker and their boss received this message among ten team members, and neither reported any issues with their laptops. The coworker probed for more information regarding the reports but didn't get a clear response. Given that they all work remotely using various software systems, there's concern it might hint at monitoring usage to possibly justify employees being flagged for working less. The message, however, was sent through an internal channel, not via email, and the IT professional was verified as a company employee. Could this message mean something more significant besides a scam?
4 Answers
It could also be that the IT department is trying to gather feedback based on other users' complaints. It's likely just poorly worded communication. However, if in doubt, your coworker should reach out through a secure and verified method to get more clarity.
Sometimes these messages are sent when there are general complaints about performance at work. The IT team could be trying to gauge the situation and look into possible issues. It's not necessarily a scam, but a vague inquiry can raise suspicion. Just ensure that whoever gets these messages talks to IT through official channels.
Got it, thanks for clarifying that it might be a routine check!
There's a chance they are just doing a broad check on machine performance based on user feedback. It doesn't always mean something nefarious is happening. If there's a pattern of concerning messages, your coworker should keep an eye on it but not jump to conclusions too quickly.
Thanks for the perspective! I appreciate the balance.
It's best to double-check with IT directly. If you're unsure about a message, it's better not to reply directly to it. Try reaching out to them via a separate, confirmed method, like a phone call or a direct email from the company directory.
That makes sense! I'll suggest that to my coworker.
Yeah, I think asking IT directly sounds like the safest bet!