Employee monitoring tools have become very common with most organizations operating remotely. Companies require assurance that tasks are executed properly, although excessive monitoring is a threat to this objective. Continuous surveillance may create a sense of mistrust in employees, violate their rights, as well as result in stress and eventual breakdown in health.
Although a certain degree of surveillance may be required, an excess is detrimental.
It Kills Trust and Motivation
Being under constant surveillance is something that no one finds appealing. Employees may perceive the act of monitoring every little task such as clicks, keystrokes or time spent on the computer as a lack of confidence in their ability to perform their duties. Rather than enhancing productivity, too much monitoring with spyware like Spyrix usually results in low employee morale.
Trust and appreciation enhance people’s performance. On the contrary, constant surveillance increases stress levels and gives the workers a feeling of being dehumanized and considered as machines.
Example
Picture a worker who is aware that the employer monitors all their movements, even counting the number of times they leave their PC. Instead of concentrating on performing their duties effectively, such employees will be seen to waste a lot of time on ensuring that they are seen to be working — moving a mouse, clicking it on different places within the screen, or typing some characters that do not make sense. It is not being productive but rather suffering from a sense of paranoia.
It Can Cross the Line on Privacy
There are tracking tools that do more than just keeping records of tasks; for instance some can take screenshots, keep an eye on PMs, or even hack into webcams and microphones. This poses a huge threat to the privacy of people especially now that most employees are working from their houses.
There’s also the question of how this data is stored and used. If employers don’t have clear policies about what they’re tracking and why, it can feel like an invasion of privacy rather than a productivity tool.
Example
An employee uses their personal computer for work, not realizing that the company’s tracking software is running in the background 24/7. Later, they find out that private messages and non-work-related activity were recorded, making them feel uncomfortable and violated.
It’s Stressful and Bad for Mental Health
Knowing that every second of your workday is being monitored can be exhausting. Employees may feel pressured to stay glued to their screens, afraid that stepping away for a break will be seen as slacking off. Over time, this leads to stress, burnout, and even resentment toward their employer.
Instead of helping employees be productive, excessive monitoring can actually make them less engaged and more likely to quit.
Example
A remote worker skips lunch and works late into the evening, fearing their low “active time” might put them at risk of losing their job. Over time, this constant stress wears them down, making them less effective and more frustrated.
It Poses Security Risks
It is ironic that the monitoring tools used by companies on employees may also lead to security threats. For example, if a tracking software gathers excess data like keystrokes, screen shots, or critical login details, it could be hacked. Such a breach might reveal both organizational and individual personnel records.
Additionally, when workers feel over-monitored, they might try to get around it—using personal devices or VPNs to avoid tracking. This can lead to even bigger security issues.
Example
A company uses a monitoring tool that logs every keystroke. When the software gets hacked, private information—like passwords and personal messages—ends up leaked online. Now, the company has a security nightmare on its hands.
It Can Get Companies in Legal Trouble
There are different regulations in various countries and states concerning employee monitoring by organizations. Failure of businesses to comply with such laws may result in legal charges or financial penalties if they do not obtain employees’ permission first or tell clearly what they are watching.
Key to everything is being honest and open with what one is monitoring. It is important for the employees to be aware of what is monitored, why it is required, and how their information is kept safe.
Example
The reputation of a company was damaged after it secretly installed tracking software on the personal computers of its employees who later discovered and complained about it, leading to a legal suit and negative publicity.
How to Find the Right Balance
Not all forms of surveillance are negative because organizations are justified to confirm productivity, and a certain degree of monitoring is reasonable. The important thing is to strike a balance between control and confidence. The following are some ways of achieving that:
- Focus on results, not activity – Instead of tracking every second, judge employees based on the quality of their work.
- Be transparent – Let employees know what’s being monitored and why. Clear communication builds trust.
- Use ethical tracking tools – Choose tools that respect privacy and only collect necessary data.
- Encourage work-life balance – Trust employees to manage their time effectively rather than micromanaging every move.
A balance in which employees feel trusted, respected and motivated to give their best is what results when companies strike the right balance.
