If you work at a job packing boxes to send
And you're tired and running a little bit slow,
Or you stop for a minute to chat with a friend,
Whatever you do, your employer will know.
If you drive a large truck coast to coast for a living
And stop at a diner to snack as you go
Better hope that your manager's feeling forgiving.
Whatever you do, your employer will know.
If your company gives you a Fitbit device
And your exercise regimen's only so-so,
Get to work! Or insurance will jack up its price!
Whatever you do, your employer will know.
Two parking inspectors in Sydney were fired,
For dissing their boss when they chatted, although
They were talking in private. It seems they were wired.
Whatever they said, their employer could know.
If you work at an office or work from your house
On a comp'ny computer, their spyware will show
Every keystroke, page image, and click of a mouse
Whatever you do, your employer will know.
If you carry a cell phone, your company might
Insist that you answer their every "Hello".
They can track your location by day and by night.
Wherever you are, your employer will know.
And thus corporations gain tighter control.
Their ubiquitous power will steadily grow.
You have lost every freedom of body and soul.
Whatever you do, your employer will know.
This is part of the collection Verses for the Information Age by Ernest Davis