What Is Employee Monitoring? A Complete Guide
Activity data is gathered through employee monitoring in order to provide insights into employee performance and company processes. Employee monitoring proponents think that activity data might offer helpful insights that will eventually lead to the creation of more productive teams. This practice, also referred to as “nannyware,” is opposed by many who see it as a betrayal of trust that hinders effective teamwork.
Whichever side you take, there is a growing trend in employee monitoring. Online monitoring became more common as companies shifted from traditional in-person work models to remote or hybrid ones using Controlio. Since the epidemic started, Employers using tools to track workers has doubled since the beginning of the pandemic to 60 percent. In the ensuing three years, Brian Kropp, chief of human resources research at Gartner, projects that percentage to increase to 70%.
Different Forms of Employee Monitoring
The goal of the business will determine how individualized the approach to employee monitoring should be. Employers can now monitor their employees’ conduct even more closely thanks to the development of new instruments over time. The growth of remote and hybrid workers has expedited this process.
Technology is adjusting to the evolving nature of the workplace. Simultaneously, companies are posing a new query: “Are my employees producing as much at home?” Some say that nannyware can assist in providing an answer to that query.
Let’s begin with a brief summary of the most popular kinds of employee monitoring systems used for employee tracking so that we may appropriately discuss the advantages and disadvantages of employee monitoring.
Tracking of Online Behavior
Employers can keep an eye on their workers’ online usage with technologies. Internet usage is monitored to learn how team members utilize and abuse the internet to accomplish tasks. Companies can limit the content that users can access on a device by using internet filters. For instance, when using the organization’s network, businesses and educational institutions have restricted access to well-known social media websites.
Tracking of Computer Activity
Internet activity tracking and computer activity tracking are extremely similar. The primary distinction is that computer activity tracking is more extensive. It is employed to monitor desktop applications directly. This technique can reveal information about staff application preferences, task completion times, and idle computer time.
Employers can monitor their employees’ computer usage, including internet and application usage, program tracking, email monitoring, and file activity tracking, with the majority of computer activity monitoring software. Current iterations of computer activity tracking software combine several distinct monitoring versions into a single program. This offers a thorough summary of all the actions carried out on a device.
Activating the Cameras and Keylogging
Everything a person enters into their keyboard is recorded via keylogging, commonly referred to as keystroke logging. In many cases, the software will also collect screenshots when a specific keyword is inputted. When a company activates a worker’s webcam on a computer, they can utilize visual trackers to monitor their work.
Activating webcams and keylogging are among the most contentious forms of employee surveillance that are now accessible. Keylogging carries a risk to security. If used improperly, it may give access to private, confidential data, like bank account passwords and email addresses. Workers may feel as though they are being watched all the time as a result of webcam tracking invading their personal space and lives.
There is disagreement on the legality of keylogging, which differs according to state and national laws. For instance, companies are required by law in Connecticut to notify employees of any monitoring action.
Monitoring of Email and Phone Conversations
“This call could be recorded for training and quality assurance reasons.” Everybody has heard it when phoning a customer service number. This is a clear indication that employee phone tracking is being used by the business. Employers utilize these tapes to ensure quality control and verify that clients receive the appropriate caliber of care.
Email activity and message content can both be monitored with email monitoring for staff members. Businesses could be curious to know, for instance, how many emails a sales representative sends out. The specifics of the email’s contents might be of interest to others.
GPS Monitoring
An employee’s whereabouts can be monitored via GPS monitoring during the workday. Companies who give their employees company automobiles or other forms of mobility are the ones who use these strategies the most. The majority of the time, delivery, courier, or postal services use GPS tracking. Tracking delivery status, ensuring employee safety, and ensuring staff are using the most efficient routes are some of the most popular uses for GPS tracking.
Must Employers Keep an Eye on Their Staff?
Company executives are aware that remote labor is here to stay. The flexible work environment is more prevalent than ever. It’s difficult for businesses to reduce the flexibility offered to employees without facing negative outcomes like employee resignations. Many are wondering if monitoring software should be used now that they can’t keep an eye on employers in person in real time. There are a wide range of perspectives on the pros and cons of employee monitoring. The most often mentioned benefits and drawbacks of employee monitoring are listed below.
Last Words
The topic of employee monitoring is divisive. Is your employer monitoring you right now? Do you manage software for employee monitoring? Share your experience with us in the comments section.
