Is Employee Monitoring Software a Good Idea?

Employers have been monitoring employees forever; they’ve just never had tools as sophisticated as we do today. But even if you can watch every keystroke and file attachment a co-worker sends, should you?

Employee monitoring software is a good idea when done right. Moreover, it may be unavoidable in many modern workplaces. Appropriately used, it can be a critical tool in ensuring compliance with norms, the safety and security of assets, and protecting workers from discrimination and harassment. 

Let’s look at the pros and cons of using such powerful tools like Wolfeye Remote Screen and consider what you need to do to utilize them effectively and judiciously.

Employee Monitoring Software: The Good and the Bad

As with any technology, employee monitoring can be used for good or bad. Like any tool, it also has its own in-built tendencies, which show up as both flaws and advantages. You’ll want to be aware of them.

Knowing your tools will help to decide if you want to go down this route. And, if you do decide to go for employee monitoring software, it’ll help you be a more mindful user of a potent tool.

The Benefits of Employee Monitoring Software

Some studies show that as many as 60% of employers already use software to track their employees. So, what makes these tools so popular among employers today?

Monitoring and Boosting Productivity

Enhancing productivity to improve bottom lines has long been the existential driver of all companies. But today’s business environment is ruthlessly competitive, and the slimmest gains in productivity can make all the difference to a business’s prospects.

Inevitably, business owners want to know how employees spend their time, if they’re getting their money’s worth, who to retain or promote, and who to drop from their teams. Monitoring employees using the software can help in each of these areas.

Don’t take my word for it. Studies have shown that monitoring can boost employee performance and increase company profits. This is the single most important driver of the popularity of employee monitoring tools. At the end of the day, you’re in business to make more money, and all other organizational goals flow from a firm’s success. 

Ensuring the Safety and Security of Your Assets

Business owners need to protect their assets. The trouble is many assets today aren’t merely in the form of fixed assets like plant and machinery, vehicles, or offices that can be secured by guards or monitored by cameras.

Some of a company’s most valuable assets often take the form of intellectual property and other valuable insider data. Even if they don’t have patents in their name, even the smallest businesses will have built up expertise and a clientele, sometimes over many years. Employees, especially those trained in-house over many years, are another valuable asset.

Understandably, managers and business owners like to know that their information is safe and that their employees are not sharing confidential information or planning on taking it away with them.

Enforcing Compliance

Business owners are also held legally liable for any shortcomings of their businesses and, often, the behavior of their employees. Today, the range of aspects covered under this rubric is wide and ever-expanding. It includes:

  • Contracts
  • Deliverables
  • Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
  • Intellectual property
  • Hiring and firing practices
  • Workplace disputes and discrimination
  • Treatment of customers

Besides, a company may have its internal norms to help it maintain consistency and improve its performance over time. Without being able to follow how their standards are being implemented, employers will find it hard to drive change. This is another reason employee monitoring software has become a valuable tool today.

Supporting Employee Needs

Finally, monitoring tools need not be punitive; they can also be used to drive employee advancement and engagement.

Employers can use software tools to support employees by promoting deserving candidates, helping those who need additional training, or providing time off where necessary.

The Drawbacks of Employee Monitoring Software

Of course, employee monitoring software has its drawbacks. Knowing these are important if you want to avoid their worst pitfalls.

Reduced Employee Morales

If your employees feel you are monitoring them to police and enforce behavior, this can feel like a loss of agency. Demotivating employees can undo any productivity gains you hope to gain from using such tools.  

Employees may also find being monitored disrespectful. They may feel that an employer doesn’t value them and consider it an intrusion into their privacy. This can lead to higher stress and even burnout in the worst cases.

Doesn’t Cover Intangible Aspects of Productivity

Monitoring screens, apps, and employees’ communications help gain insight into your business. However, they cannot be a substitute for thinking and soft skills. Many aspects of a business may not be fully captured by data, such as its culture, for instance. Ultimately, such factors may have the most significant impact on business success.

If employers and managers become overly reliant on software to monitor employees and forego greater personal exchange and other forms of feedback, it can be a recipe for disaster.

Can Create Wrong Incentives

Some studies have shown that monitoring employees can also skew incentives. For example, employees may aim to hit numbers and forego initiative if they feel their reward structure is limited in scope.

Worse still, one study has shown that monitoring employees can encourage unethical behavior as employees bend the rules to meet requirements.

Analyzing Data Requires Time, Effort, and Skill

Once the software has collected data, business owners, managers, or HR executives still need to analyze this information qualitatively to draw conclusions. This takes time and effort and can cost a business additional work hours.

Moreover, drawing the correct conclusions from data is not guaranteed, as information can conceal as much as it reveals. Drawing wrong conclusions from data would void the whole purpose of the exercise.

Challenges in Protecting Employee Privacy

Finally, the information gathered in software is an additional burden on a company. The business is now responsible for more sensitive data that it needs to keep secure. Irresponsible handling of employees’ personal information is not just ethically problematic; you can also be held legally liable.

Final Thoughts

Employee monitoring software can be a powerful and valuable tool to improve productivity and ensure compliance. 

To avoid the potential legal and ethical pitfalls of monitoring employees that come with it, you will need to:

  • Establish clear goals for how you plan to use your software tools
  • Ensure you legally comply with the necessary laws
  • Be transparent with your employees about how and why you are using it
  • Convince your employees you will monitor and evaluate them fairly
  • Use the tool not to police employees but to support them

Sources

Articles.

Do Companies in the US Need To Disclose That They Track a Computer?

Do Companies in the US Need To Disclose That They Track a Computer? The pandemic has forced many companies to switch to remote work setups, but this doesn’t change the fact that some employers still need to monitor and access their employees’ computers and devices to keep track of work …

The Best Live Screen Monitoring Software Compared

The Best Live Screen Monitoring Software Compared There are a lot of great reasons that drive businesses and parents to start using live screen monitoring software every year. While conventional methods like monitoring search history and setting up firewalls provide some level of control over what employees and children do …

This Is How Remote Workers Can Be Tracked

This Is How Remote Workers Can Be Tracked Remote desktop applications have given employers more insights into employee performance to optimize productivity. And now that employees are increasingly away from the office, businesses are faced with the challenge of tracking them effectively.The best ways to track remote workers are live …

How To Track User Activity on Windows Computer

How To Track User Activity on Windows Computer Automatically tracking user activity is an excellent way to gather insights on your employees and children. It allows you to monitor device use and address unwanted behavior as soon as it happens. Whether you’re looking to improve workplace productivity or protect your …

Is It Legal To Monitor Employees’ Personal Devices?

Is It Legal To Monitor Employees’ Personal Devices? Many of today’s workplaces have moved towards working remotely—whether from home or elsewhere. Employers need alternative approaches to ensure their employees are making productive use of their time—usually by monitoring. But what if the employee is using a personal laptop?Monitoring employees’ personal …

Can You Track Your Employees on Teams?

Can You Track Your Employees on Teams? Employee tracking continues to be a major challenge for small businesses. While numerous budding applications are designed for this goal, selecting the best option for your business can take time and effort. To make this decision easier for you, let’s start by exploring …

How To Monitor Children’s Screen Use (Parent’s Guide)

How To Monitor Children’s Screen Use (Parent’s Guide) In the modern age of the Internet, monitoring your children’s screen use and making sure that they’re staying safe online has become another necessity of parenting. Unfortunately, when it comes to being tech-literate, children always seem to be two steps ahead. Having …

Can You Monitor Your Employees’ Internet Usage?

Can You Monitor Your Employees’ Internet Usage? With remote working on the rise, more and more people will be working from home. That means that employers need to be able to monitor their employees’ use of company-owned computers, networks, and other resources. They also need to know what their employees …

How To Know if Employees Use Work Devices for Personal Use

How To Know if Employees Use Work Devices for Personal Use If you manage a small business, you must monitor what your employees are doing on their work computers to prevent time theft and data leakage risk. But how can you do this? You can find out whether your employees …

Is Screen Sharing Detectable? What You Need To Know

Is Screen Sharing Detectable? What You Need To Know Virtual collaboration systems are becoming more advanced, and screen-sharing technology isn’t being left behind. This feature is handy in various ways, from monitoring employees and children to videoconferencing. However, is screen sharing detectable?Screen sharing is usually detectable, as you can see …

Can Remote Desktop Software Work Without Internet?

Can Remote Desktop Software Work Without Internet? There is no doubt that remote desktop software offers a valuable tool to view or control devices remotely. However, with many of these applications being browser-based, you may not be sure whether your chosen remote desktop software can function without an internet connection.Remote …

Do Companies Put Tracking Software on Their Laptops?

Do Companies Put Tracking Software on Their Laptops? Are you worried that your employer might be tracking your laptop activity? It’s a valid concern today, as more and more companies are turning to remote work.Companies put tracking software on their laptops to monitor employee productivity, protect against potential data breaches, …

Can You See a Laptop Screen on Your Phone?

Can You See a Laptop Screen on Your Phone? The proliferation of the internet has seen an increase in the use of second-screen devices. Technology enthusiasts have also noticed with excitement that it has become easier than ever to pair multiple devices or mirror your phone display to an external …

This Is How Employee Tracking Software Works

This Is How Employee Tracking Software Works Employers generally want to optimize employee productivity. However, this can be challenging if these employees spend most of their time in non-work-related activities such as chatting on social media. This is where employee tracking software comes in handy.An employee tracking software is a …

How To Screen Share a Computer Without Them Knowing

How To Screen Share a Computer Without Them Knowing Screen sharing is a handy tool to remotely monitor another person’s screen activity in real time. This can prove highly effective for parents managing children’s screen activity and employers determining employee productivity. But is it possible to screen share a computer …

Can Remote Computer Access Be Traced?

Can Remote Computer Access Be Traced? Remote computer access has become increasingly common after the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote access tools such as RDP and TeamViewer enable employees to comfortably work at home. However, a major concern for employers is whether they can monitor how employees use these remote networks. Remote computer …

Is Employee Monitoring Ethical or Unethical?

Is Employee Monitoring Ethical or Unethical? Scores of employees now favor remote work because of the flexibility it affords them. As a result, you may consider adopting employee monitoring systems to gauge their productivity. But is it ethical to monitor employees?Employee monitoring is ethical if it incorporates transparency. Employers should …

How To Spy on Other Computers on the Same Network

How To Spy on Other Computers on the Same Network You might need to monitor what others do on your network if you’re an employer or a parent. Many employers need to track what their employees do with the company’s devices, while parents need to ensure their children are safe …

Can Someone See a Laptop Screen Without Permission?

Can Someone See a Laptop Screen Without Permission? Cyber surveillance is no longer the forte of intelligence agencies. Many tools can access and monitor your computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. So, you may wonder if someone can see a laptop screen without permission, how that may happen, and whether or …

How To Monitor a Child’s Computer Without Them Knowing

How To Monitor a Child’s Computer Without Them Knowing There are many reasons why a parent might want to monitor their child’s computer. You can ensure their personal information is safe and that they use the computer responsibly. Plus, with more children attending online classes, you can check in and …

How To Choose the Best Live Screen Monitoring Software

How To Choose the Best Live Screen Monitoring Software There are a number of reasons to choose a reliable live screen monitoring software. Whether you’re a small business or a parent who needs to ensure their child is safe online, you should understand the options available to you.You should choose …

Can Employers Track Computer Activity? 5 Facts

Can Employers Track Computer Activity? 5 Facts With the growing popularity of the work-from-home model, there is an ever-growing need to keep track of employee productivity during work hours. Are they working as they would when in the office, or is something distracting them, affecting how much gets done in …

How To Remotely View Your Child’s Computer Screen

How To Remotely View Your Child’s Computer Screen Between adult content, viruses, groomers, and cyberbullies, parents today have a lot to worry about when it comes to their children’s online environment. Of course, your child may simply be spending too much time online at the expense of schoolwork and time …

Best Software To See What Another Computer Is Doing

Best Software To See What Another Computer Is Doing Many options are available if you want to monitor a computer remotely. However, it can be confusing to decide which one you need. So, what is the best software to see what another computer is doing?The best software to see what …

Can a Remote Desktop Be Monitored? What You Need To Know.

Can a Remote Desktop Be Monitored? What You Need To Know. Sure, governments, intelligence agencies, and large corporations with endless resources can purchase advanced snooping tools to keep tabs on their employees and targets, but what of small business owners? Is it possible to monitor workers’ PCs remotely?Remote desktops can …

Is Employee Monitoring Software a Good Idea?

Is Employee Monitoring Software a Good Idea? Employers have been monitoring employees forever; they’ve just never had tools as sophisticated as we do today. But even if you can watch every keystroke and file attachment a co-worker sends, should you?Employee monitoring software is a good idea when done right. Moreover, …

Is It Possible To Watch Someone’s Computer Screen?

Is It Possible To Watch Someone’s Computer Screen? Computers have become a critical part of our lives, whether at work or at home. However, incorporating these devices into work and education presents many challenges, leaving many people wondering – can you monitor other people’s computers from your device?It is possible …

employee-tracking

WOLFEYE REMOTE SCREEN Software to Remotely Monitor your Employees’ Computer Screen. Tutorial Free download* $97 (12-month license for 1 PC)** *3-day trial version. Zip file password: wolfeye**60 days money back guaranteeSupports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista & XPTerms of Use:Use of this software in an illegal manner or for illegal …

Wolfeye Remote Screen (EN)

WOLFEYE REMOTE SCREEN Monitor everything that happens on the PC. Tutorial Free download* $97 (12 month license for 1 PC)** *3-day trial version. Zip file password: wolfeye**60 days money back guarantee. To unsubscribe / end the subscription just send us an email to “kontakt@wolfeye.de”Supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista …