04/22/2020

Daily Buzz: The Rise of Employee Surveillance Software

The effect of these methods could backfire

As many transition to remote work, organizations continue to adjust their business operations. One effect is the significant increase in the investment of surveillance software.

“Surveillance software, in particular, can monitor what remote workers do on their devices by tracking keystrokes, regularly taking screenshots and using other methods,” said Kaya Ismail on CMSWire.

Why are organizations investing? For one, it’s a matter of accountability.

“In some cases, businesses believe that just letting employees know they’re being monitored has the psychological effect of keeping them productive,” Ismail said.

But the effect of these methods could backfire, Ismail warns.

“It makes sense to keep tabs on what your employees are doing. After all, you’re paying for their time and expertise. However, using tools to actually spy on their digital movements or time spent in front of a screen can encroach on employee privacy and cause distrust,” he said.

An alternative approach to tracking digital movements is to set clear goals and then give employees the autonomy to achieve them. That level of responsibility could motivate them to do good work.

If organizations are looking for a middle ground between total surveillance and employee autonomy, they might benefit from such collaboration tools as Slack or Trello.

“Even if surveillance software isn’t right for most employers, that doesn’t mean employees should operate in the dark either,” Ismail said.

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.