[06] New HRM Trend in Employee Monitoring

on

 Employee Monitoring 


Employee monitoring is the process of using several workplace surveillance techniques to learn more about the whereabouts and activities of employees. Companies keep an eye on their workers to boost output and safeguard company assets. The primary goal is to stop inappropriate conduct before it starts and, in the case that prevention efforts are unsuccessful, to stop the behavior before it may harm the company. 

Employers are seeking for solutions to support employee productivity regardless of location as more workers than ever before work remotely. An increasing number of companies are using employee monitoring software to monitor and assess productivity. In addition, this software may be used to monitor industry compliance requirements, assess the effectiveness of internal system operations, and detect potential dangers.

According to an International Data Corp (IDC) workplace research study, 30–40% of employee Internet usage time was not connected to work. Additional data: sixty percent of all online transactions are conducted during business hours; twenty-one to thirty-one percent of employees had written emails disclosing private information, including trade secrets or intellectual property, outside of the company network. It is believed that 40 percent of American productivity is lost annually as a result of online goldbricking.


The issue of whose equipment employees are using and when they are using it is crucial for employee monitoring. Employers are permitted to keep an eye on how their employees use company-owned computers, cellphones, and other gadgets during working hours, but things become complicated if employees bring their own devices or use them on their own time. When managers see employees use company-owned devices after hours or their personal devices while on the job, the legality of such actions becomes hazy. 






Benefits of Employee monitoring



Employee monitoring has a lot of potential advantages for companies when done correctly. More specifically, this type of monitoring can result in higher output, quicker threat assessments, and more chances for evidence-based decision-making.

  • Increased productivity  -  Some businesses discover that higher levels of responsibility result in higher levels of efficiency and production. As a result, this reduces time theft and improves team output in general. Since the firm is receiving more work for the same amount of money and time, this also helps to improve income.


  • Quicker evaluation of threats - Employee monitoring may assist IT and security teams in identifying possible risks and breaches more rapidly, particularly for bad actors within the firm, for businesses that are concerned about security.  Enforcement of some corporate regulations, such as those governing internet usage, is also made simpler by surveillance.


  • More decision-making based on the evidence -  Lastly, data collection helps systems like Insightful with workforce analytics and business intelligence by painting a fuller picture of employee activity. After that, this information may be utilized to support evidence-based hiring and business choices.



Conclusion 

In conclusion, organizations may benefit greatly from employee monitoring in terms of ethical standards, security, communication, and productivity. To address employee privacy concerns, however, it is imperative to put in place monitoring procedures that are open, equitable, and compatible with regulatory requirements.






References 


www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Employee monitoring and privacy in unionized workplaces and bargaining trends. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/POM23FhWfkQ [Accessed 21 Aug. 2023].

‌

WhatIs.com. (n.d.). What is employee monitoring? | Definition from TechTarget. [online] Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/employee-monitoring#:~:text=Employee%20monitoring%20is%20the%20use.

‌


Comments

  1. Prasadini Jinadasa27 August 2023 at 11:37

    This article provides valuable insights into the concept of employee monitoring and its significance in today's evolving work landscape. It effectively explains the reasons behind companies employing surveillance techniques to enhance productivity and protect company interests. The mention of the growing trend of remote work and the utilization of monitoring software to assess productivity is relevant to the current workplace dynamics. The inclusion of statistics from the International Data Corp research study adds credibility to the discussion. The article also addresses the legal complexities surrounding employee monitoring, particularly in relation to the use of personal devices. Overall, this article offers a clear and informative perspective on the practice of employee monitoring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dhatshayini Thiruselvam29 August 2023 at 08:12

      Thank you Prasadini,

      I like hearing your insightful comments.

      Delete
  2. vishwa chinthaka hewagamage29 August 2023 at 13:04

    This blog post provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging trend in employee monitoring, shedding light on both its significance and potential benefits. As the modern work landscape continues to evolve, the need for effective employee monitoring solutions becomes increasingly evident.

    The post aptly defines employee monitoring and its purpose – a practice aimed at enhancing productivity and safeguarding company interests. The shift towards remote work has undoubtedly highlighted the importance of monitoring employee activities, regardless of their location. The utilization of employee monitoring software to track and evaluate productivity, ensure compliance, and identify potential risks is indeed a logical step for organizations striving to maintain efficiency and security.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dhatshayini Thiruselvam30 August 2023 at 04:23

      Monitoring employees effectively may reduce accidents, increase performance, and enhance general welfare. However, our study shows that it can also diminish workers' feelings of agency and personal accountability, possibly leading to a rise in the frequency of the same behaviors that these systems are designed to prevent. Leaders must treat workers fairly, promote responsibility, and define monitoring as a tool for empowering — not punishing — workers in order to reduce this risk.

      Delete
  3. Shashika Hettiarachchi1 September 2023 at 07:12

    This is indeed an eye opening article connected to today and future work environments. This was no an issue in decade ago but becoming a crucial issue in decade to come which need solutions search from today itself. This article shows that where we as the managers to focus on supervising our employees particularly belongs to Y and Z gen. Not only they divulge information and break intellectual property laws but also their own engagement addictions to devises and social media creates efficiency of their work out come affecting the operation of the organization. Thank you for throwing light on this darker area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dhatshayini Thiruselvam1 September 2023 at 21:13

      Thank you so much Shashika, New, more potent technology is continuously being introduced in the twenty-first century. In terms of employment, this technology is both a benefit and a curse. The capacity to execute routine corporate operations, avoid liabilities, carry out investigations, and ultimately succeed in a cutthroat global marketplace is made possible by sophisticated monitoring software and technology. Employees can gain when monitoring offers quick feedback, maintains a productive and focused staff, and deters unethical or unlawful activity. However, the same technology enables employers to keep a close eye on every aspect of their workers' behavior, interactions, and locations both inside and outside of the office. Employers will increasingly use monitoring as a tool, and soon it will be commonplace. This trend is troubling because it can violate an employee's reasonable expectation of privacy, encourage employees to sneak away and engage in personal activities during work hours, lower morale, lead to complaints and even potential employee departures, and make employees afraid to use equipment even for legitimate business purposes.

      Delete

Post a Comment