When workplace surveillance was put in place, it had all the good intentions. The purpose was to boost efficiency, compliance, and safety. However, it has some unforeseen drawbacks. Here are some of the ways how workplace surveillance could backfire via the use of apps like Controlio for both employees and employers:
Reduction in confidence and morale of the staff
- When employees feel that their privacy is being breached, they lose confidence in the management.
- When employees start to feel uncomfortable and constantly under pressure because of the constant monitoring, it can reduce overall job satisfaction.
- If the employees constantly feel that they are under the microscope, it can reduce their morale and engagement with the company.
Issues regarding ethics and laws
- Constant use of employee tracking systems can lead to violation of the privacy rights of the employees, and this may lead to legal issues and even fines.
- The corporation is at risk of reputational harm and legal precautions if they do not follow domestic and international surveillance standards.
- There may be an insurance liable for the public outcry, if the data that has been monitored is used orally, for example, for discrimination, purposes.
Overall, impact productivity: negative
- Because of constant surveillance, productivity theatre has emerged where the workers look like they are working and being productive while they are not getting work done.
- Employees are not interested in thinking clearly if they are constantly being watched. This limits their innovation and creativity.
- The lack of trust between employees and employers develops resistance and animosity, which reduces productivity and collaboration.
Reputational Harm to the Company
- Companies can also suffer reputation harm, and public perception if their surveillance techniques are used to employ injustice or invade the privacy of their employees.
- Companies that have a reputation for invasive monitoring may need help attracting and regionally, talented workers.
- Such companies may also lose existing employees.
Technology and finance costs
- The investment needed to install, and keep those surveillance systems going can be high. It also requires a lot of manpower and funds that take valuable resources away from the company.
- Fixing the technological issues that may arise like system breakdowns or data breaches can lead to a huge financial setback for the company.
Data abusiveness
- To avoid unauthorized access and protect legal speech, companies have to keep the collected data, secure, and properly managed.
- A lot of the time they have assumptions regarding employee behavior based on a misinterpretation of the surveillance data which has led to unfair decisions or disciplinary measures.
How to minimize the chances of a defect?
- Take a meeting with the staff and make sure that everyone understands the reason why this surveillance is in place and they know other goals, procedures, and scope of the same.
- Intrusive procedures and the implementation of unreasonable surveillance should be avoided.
- To prevent illegal consequences, make sure that all surveillance practices follow the specific regulations and laws.
By carefully considering the pros and cons of using workplace monitoring, firms may create a safe and productive work environment for their employees.