Remote work has been a rapidly growing trend over the past few years and it's no surprise. Not only does it save companies money on overhead costs, but it also leads to higher employee morale and productivity. In fact, according to a recent survey, 16% of companies are completely remote, 40% support a hybrid office/remote work environment, and 44% don't allow their employees to work remotely.
However, with the rise of remote work, there are also challenges that come with it, one of which is the cybersecurity risks that come with having a remote team. This is where employee monitoring tools come into play. These tools track digital movements such as time clock, keyboard activity, mouse activity, websites visited, screenshots, and app usage.
While these tools have their benefits, such as helping managers understand how employees spend their time and reducing non-work activities during work hours, they can also be intrusive and hurt employee morale and productivity. Employees can feel betrayed and untrusted, leading to a loss of company loyalty and even causing good employees to leave.
So, what can companies do to find the right balance between tracking too much or too little? They should consider what they really need to track, how to treat all employees fairly, what their employees think about monitoring, and the costs and benefits of implementing monitoring tools.
In conclusion, while employee monitoring tools can be beneficial in some situations, it's important for companies to weigh the pros and cons before implementing them. It's all about finding the right balance and creating a work environment where employees feel trusted, appreciated, and valued.
