Why Employee Monitoring Is Hurting Productivity

Many companies and business leaders, particularly those who were adamantly against remote working until it was a necessity, have used monitoring tools to make sure their employees are still being productive.

Using these resources may be a quick way to ensure staffers are staying on task, but it also creates a workplace culture of distrust and conflict. 

Tracking software is not new by any means, but it has grown in popularity over the last several months. For instance, Microsoft launched its Productivity Score which monitors time spent in virtual meetings and the amount of emails sent.

Additionally, Amazon launched its Panorama tool that utilizes existing security cameras to track the movement of employees.

While in some cases this technology can be used to improve the productivity and efficiency of a workplace, the trouble starts when monitoring moves towards tracking individual metrics instead of the big picture.

Using this software to monitor how individual projects and tasks are being done only adds pressure to the situation, which can lead to job dissatisfaction. Essentially, these tools are automated micromanaging techniques.

Additionally, monitoring does not take into account the varying ways people work, and diversity is essential to a well-oiled workforce. Doing so hinders creativity, productivity and collaboration.

Trust is an essential component to a healthy workplace culture. When there is mutual trust between all levels of employees, workers are happier, healthier and more motivated to do their best work.