What is employee monitoring?

Employee monitoring uses technology to help companies track workforce performance, productivity, and safety—as well as monitoring for things like product, data, and information theft.

Taking a close look at employee monitoring.

Monitoring employees to track workforce productivity and safety is becoming increasingly common. Why? It works. Tracking and optimizing driver routes speeds delivery times. Monitoring item picker activity in a warehouse increases order-to-packing efficiencies. Setting up surveillance cameras deters theft.

There is now a whole host of software applications and technology out there to help companies deploy effective employee monitoring systems. It’s a quickly growing market that’s expected to reach nearly $1.5B by 2028.

Common types of employee monitoring

Time tracking

using automated time and attendance systems to accurately record employee working hours.

Keystroke logging

employing keylogging software to track keystrokes (what’s being typed) on company devices. 

GPS tracking

monitoring employee location—for instance, drivers on a route or item pickers in a warehouse.

Video surveillance

using cameras to monitor worker productivity or protect against theft or vandalism. 

Website browsing

monitoring employee internet usage to monitor time spent online and sites visited.  

Application monitoring

tracking apps and software usage on company devices and accessing data and files from those apps.

Email tracking

scanning and accessing employee email for content that might harm an organization or leak sensitive information.

Social media monitoring

using applications that monitor company information shared on social media accounts.

Keycards

using keycards to monitor when employees enter parts of a building or use equipment like terminals or copy machines.  

Network monitoring

tracks network usage, if it’s work related, how secure or risky it is, and what’s being connected to.

Project management apps

tracks workflow and completion on projects while helping employees self-manage productivity.

What type of technology is doing the tracking?

This market is expanding rapidly as stated. There are new solutions coming to market constantly. And the technology is advancing quickly, too. Here’s a short list of employee monitoring technology:

  • Employee monitoring software
  • Video surveillance cameras
  • Wearable GPS/health/safety monitors
  • Keystroke/screen recording applications
  • Mobile device management solutions
  • Network surveillance systems
  • Keycard access systems
  • Biometric security technology

This technology can be procured as a total solution, a bundled solution, or built a la carte by a provider. Of course, a company will also need the secure IT infrastructure necessary to connect and best utilize their employee monitoring system.

Minimize monitoring where it makes sense.

As a company, you might feel compelled to monitor everything. But you also need to build trust between the organization and the people who work in it. Over monitoring can be overbearing and make employees resent their employer.

In the end, your employees are a valuable asset. They possess workplace intellectual knowledge that takes time and investment to build—and replace. Monitoring works best when it comes from a place of respect and betterment where needed rather than heavy-handed enforcement everywhere, all of the time.

Transparency is key to acceptance.

Understandably, employees may be apprehensive to monitoring. But if openly informed of why, what, and how they are being monitoring, most are comfortable with it. Always let them know they can appeal should monitoring affect their job. And employers should always remember that a great employee can always have a bad week. Life happens.

Get legal direction.

There are federal and state employee monitoring laws. They differ depending upon your location. Before setting up a workplace monitoring program, always consult a legal professional. Here are a few things to think about and ask:

  • What methods am I allowed to use for activity monitoring?
  • When is it OK to monitor, and in which location?
  • Do I have to get consent from employees or only notify them?