During the pandemic, many people started working from home, and companies adopted new surveillance tools to track employee productivity. These technologies, such as Hubstaff and Teramind, can monitor keystrokes, mouse movements, take screenshots, and even record audio.
While companies argue that such tools help improve productivity and manage a remote workforce, employees are concerned about privacy invasion, especially when working from home. Some workers may not even realize they are being monitored. Experts suggest that transparency is essential—employees need to be informed about what is being monitored, how, and why.
If used properly, these tools can enhance productivity, but if misused, they can damage employee trust and morale. Employees using company devices should expect zero privacy, but personal devices may have different rules depending on the company's policies.
Overall, while surveillance software can help companies achieve their productivity goals, improper use can have the opposite effect.
Vocabulary:
• Surveillance: The act of watching or monitoring someone or something.
• Keystrokes: The act of pressing keys on a keyboard.
• Distributed: Spread out or dispersed, usually in reference to a workforce spread over different locations.
• Misuse: Incorrect or improper use of something.
Source: Washington Post