No, "quitting" is rarely the right option - you do not need to proactively respond to the situation they created! If you're willing to no longer work there over this (as you should be), then that is a pretty strong BATNA. You soft refuse and give them alternative options that are acceptable to you (perhaps supplying their own equipment to run the spyware, a higher rate so you can procure your own dedicated equipment, etc), etc. Let them be the ones to terminate the relationship.
The same goes for other bullshit sprung on you out of the blue - noncompetes, piss testing, etc. There's a decent chance that if you just passively stonewall, they will eventually give up.
Let them be the ones to terminate the relationship.
Disagree - in general you never want to be expressly terminated. Layoffs are a different matter, of course. But an explicit "for cause" termination is always a red flag to any future employer.
There's a decent chance that if you just passively stonewall, they will eventually give up.
You really can't stonewall these things and I wouldn't suggest to anyone that they try. If they foist unacceptable conditions on you as a condition for continued employment, then whatever it is -- moving to Dallas, a shitty NDA, taking a piss test -- you need to be an adult and say some version of "Thanks, but no thanks" and move on.
Or stick it out and be prepared to be miserable and feel like a suck-up if you want. But either way, those are the choice, unfortunately.
I should have said "let them end the relationship", not "terminate". There is a generally a long road from failing to install some spyware on your own device, or failing to give them some piss to play with, to "you are being fired for cause". If you're given a hard ultimatum (do this by next Friday or else), or if it looks like the process is definitely heading in that direction, then you can bail.
Every situation is a negotiation. I'm not advocating outright aggressive rejection, but rather passive stonewalling or responding with a counteroffer. Ultimately it depends on your position and what value you're providing. If management loves you (or needs you), that will go a long way in a sane place. You're a known quality employee getting the job done, and someone from HR or IT is coming along and rocking the boat. Obviously if you're already on shaky ground, then you've got a lot less leeway to play around.
The same goes for other bullshit sprung on you out of the blue - noncompetes, piss testing, etc. There's a decent chance that if you just passively stonewall, they will eventually give up.