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The Pros & Cons of Tracking Your Employees’ Every Digital Movement

Writer's picture: Nicole BakerNicole Baker

Updated: Nov 6, 2024


Group of employee working together

The pandemic has revolutionized the workplace on a global scale. Remote and hybrid work opportunities are no longer just an option, but have become integral elements of modern business; allowing organizations to increase flexibility while empowering employees with newfound freedom in their jobs.


By allowing employees to work remotely, organizations can save money while simultaneously boosting staff morale and output. This flexibility gives employers the opportunity to create a workplace that positively impacts both their bottom line and workers’ satisfaction levels.


Remote work is becoming increasingly popular in the business world, with organizations recognizing its many benefits.

  1. 16% of companies are completely remote

  2. 40% support hybrid office/remote working

  3. 44% don’t allow employees to work remotely


The work-from-home revolution has been an exciting but risky move for employers; with the newfound advantages come a host of cyber security concerns, and keeping track of remote teams can be quite the challenge for managers.


The pandemic has inspired a drastic change in how businesses operate, with many adopting remote and hybrid work models. This shift has also sparked the rise of employee monitoring tools – which have been met with both praise and criticism from staff members.


What Is Employee Monitoring Software?


Employers can keep tabs on their employees more easily than ever before with state-of-the-art monitoring software. This innovative technology not only tracks general clock in and out, but also gives employers a real time insight into how each employee is interacting with digital systems by periodically taking detailed screenshots of all active windows!


Companies are gaining more insight into the daily activities of their employees, thanks to advanced tracking tools like Hubstaff and BambooHR. These systems can monitor computer usage throughout the day and generate comprehensive reports on progress made in a given period. With this technology, companies are able to evaluate productivity with unprecedented accuracy.


These tools can provide helpful insight into your data.

  1. Time clock

  2. Keyboard activity

  3. Keystrokes

  4. Mouse activity

  5. Websites visited

  6. Screenshots of the desktop

  7. Apps used and how long in use


Employers increasingly rely on invasive tools to monitor employees, which can range from tracking sound and video to subtly observing their every move. Depending on the tool chosen, this surveillance may be readily obvious or discreetly hidden; either way, it raises ethical questions that employers must consider before implementing such measures.


Struggling with “productivity theft” in your organization? Consider the potential of monitoring but also be aware that it could cost you good employees and trust. We’ll discuss the pros, cons, and what to look at before making a decision on surveillance systems.


Pros of Activity Monitoring Tools


Helps Managers Understand How Employees Spend Their Day


An effective way to gauge the productivity of employees is through tracking tools that can monitor project time, giving managers a window into what their team members are focusing on. This allows for better ROI predictions by understanding where resources and efforts have been allocated.


Reduces Non-Work Activities During Working Hours


With the rise of remote work, managers are concerned that employees may misuse their freedom and be less productive. To prevent paying wages for idle time spent on social media, employers need to keep a close watch over employee activity from afar.


It seems the mere presence of a boss has an impact on productivity – when employers monitor employees’ app usage, half reported spending less time idling away at non-work activities. This shows that for many people, knowing “big brother is watching” can be enough to boost hardworking habits!


With remote working increasingly on the rise, keeping track of time can be a difficult task


Small businesses that depend on remote teams to operate can now make their tasks easier with tracking tools. With a simple click, employees or freelance workers will be able to log the hours they’ve worked and employers can rest assured knowing there is an upper limit for how long each week’s work should go. Moreover, automated payments through the app streamline payment processing significantly!


Cons of Activity Monitoring Tools


Hurts Employees’ Morale & Productivity


When the box of monitoring is opened, employees often find themselves trapped in a metaphorical cage. Without morale, productivity drags and drops like a stone sinking to the bottom of an ocean – almost impossible for it to resurface.


With most employees now being monitored, worries can creep in that their efforts may be misconstrued or overlooked. Amidst the fear of low productivity scores and false perceptions of slacking off, workers must find a balance between staying focused on work while still maintaining peak performance levels.


Varying emotions can arise among employees when they feel like their every move is being watched.

  1. Betrayed

  2. No longer trusted

  3. Loss of company loyalty

  4. Hurt

  5. Treated like a number instead of a person


Despite popular belief, constantly monitoring activity does not always equate to higher productivity


Employers and employees alike can benefit from tracking tools that provide detailed activity reports, giving valuable insight into keyboard/mouse action during a designated period. Overviews of worker productivity help organizations optimize their operations to the fullest.


Can working remotely still be productive without the use of a mouse and keyboard? Absolutely! From solving workflow issues to engaging with customers on Zoom calls, modern employees can tap into their problem-solving skills instead of relying solely on technology. With quick thinking and good communication, remote workers are thriving in today’s digital world.


The activity report provides only an impersonal numerical score; but, beyond the metric there could be a hardworking employee who is undeservedly dismissed for seeming to do nothing.


Organizations cannot succeed without investing in their people


The current landscape of the tech industry poses a challenge for employers: how to ensure productivity from their employees without compromising trust and appreciation. Survey findings show that nearly half (47%) of tech workers would be inclined to quit if they were targeted by workplace monitoring, suggesting it can create an environment in which employees feel unvalued and unsupported.


By reducing individuals to a few keystrokes, companies limit their employees’ creative abilities and risk losing them. Without an environment full of appreciation for its workforce and enabling growth opportunities, organizations cannot hope to have happy workers who stay around in the long run.


Finding a Balance


Everyone has different needs, so striking the right balance between tracking too much or too little is key.

  1. What do you really need to track?

  2. Should you treat all employees the same?

  3. What do your employees think about monitoring?

  4. Are you trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist?

  5. What features are unnecessary that you can turn off?

  6. Is the tool giving you accurate data related to productivity?


Make sure your business succeeds with the right tools!


Looking to maximize the value of cloud tools for your business? Give us a call now – we’re offering expertise and insights into leveraging these powerful resources. Schedule an informational chat today, and get equipped with the knowledge you need take advantage of their potential!

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