The increase in remote work has led to a rise in the use of employee-monitoring software by companies. These software tools track various aspects of employees' work, such as keystrokes, mouse activity, screen recordings, and web and app usage. The goal is to help companies evaluate productivity levels and ensure employees are accountable for their time.
One recent case in Australia involved a woman who was fired from her consultant role because her employer's monitoring software showed very low keystroke activity on her laptop. Her manager claimed that the role required over 500 keystrokes per hour, but she was averaging less than 100. Similarly, in another incident, a manager fired two workers who were using mouse-moving technology to mimic work. A report from Time Doctor, a workday analytics company, revealed long periods of inactivity when the workers were not typing.
The demand for employee-tracking software has grown significantly, with over 298,000 employees being tracked worldwide using Time Doctor's software alone. In a survey conducted by Resume Builder, 96% of US business leaders with remote or hybrid workforces reported using some form of employee-monitoring software. This is a significant increase compared to the 10% adoption rate before the pandemic.
It's worth noting that some employees have expressed concerns about privacy and the potential violation of their rights. While companies like Time Doctor encourage transparency and disclosure to employees, it ultimately remains the decision of the company owner to implement such software. Refusing to comply with tracking measures, such as turning on webcams during meetings, may have consequences for employees, including the possibility of termination.
As remote and hybrid work setups continue to be prevalent, companies are adapting to the need for productivity analytics and monitoring tools. The use of employee-tracking software allows businesses to monitor and evaluate their employees' performance, ensuring accountability and reducing time-wasting activities. However, it is important for employers to strike a balance between monitoring productivity and respecting employee privacy rights.