How Remote Work Ushered In An Era Of Spyware

Although remote working has provided an opportunity for micromanagers to give their employees more freedom and independence in how they work, many are unable to let go of their control.

In order to keep a sharp eye on employees working remotely, some managers have adopted tracking software that can monitor when workers are sitting in front of their computers, how many words they are typing, and ensuring that they are not spending time distracted with personal tasks.

By 2026, the employee monitoring software market is expected to reach $4.5 billion, which coincides with companies shifting to permanent remote and hybrid models.

One such tool that is used to monitor employees is Sneek, which captures live photos of workers through their webcam. Even cofounder Del Currie says that “it’s not the solution” for those concerned about their privacy being invaded.

This isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon, but it is being emphasized by the growing number of distributed workforces. It also begs the question, why can’t leaders just trust the employees they played a role in hiring?

Instead of measuring success through keyboard strokes and the number of calls made, managers should focus more on actual results, meetings, and productivity levels.