How Productivity and Surveillance Technologies Can Crisis Your Business

The advantages and benefits of new technology in the workplace can come with risks and drawbacks. Productivity software and monitoring equipment are the latest examples.

As new york times reported this week. And some form of accountability is essential to the success of any organization. But tracking employee behavior minute by minute, often with rough metrics, is a more proactive form of accountability than usual. “

Increased efficiency

“Organizations can use productivity and monitoring technologies to improve employee efficiency, understand their customers better, and track employee performance,” said founder of search marketing agency Searchant. One Marcus Clarke said in an email.

help the manager

“The ability to track employee productivity and activity in real time helps managers understand employee performance and identify potential problems early. It also helps us better understand how we are spending our time and how we can optimize our workflows accordingly.”

Surveillance technology “helps leaders monitor employee activity in sensitive areas such as data centers,” he said. obesity journal It pointed out.

“They provide businesses with a level of security and can be used to deter crime and protect assets. It can be used to investigate incidents,” he pointed out.

risks and drawbacks

A survey of CEOs and other business executives yielded a list of problems associated with productivity and monitoring programs, but they can create more problems than they solve.

“Using surveillance technology could cause problems in the workplace,” LeverageRx CEO Rhett Stubbendeck recalled in an email.

“For example, my employees had ethical concerns and felt that we were violating their privacy. I noticed that it was causing resentment among them and greatly reducing the morale of the employees.

“If you hurt an employee’s feelings, they will become disengaged, less productive, or worse, more likely to leave the organization,” he concluded.

create a crisis situation

“The use of productivity and surveillance technology can create a crisis situation for companies and organizations because it is not always clear what they are going to do. site.

“Companies often do not fully understand the implications of using these tools. In addition, we must ensure that we do not violate employee rights or privacy rights,” he said in a statement.

“Productivity and the use of surveillance technology can also create a crisis situation as some people feel uneasy about being monitored by their employer. You feel like you’re stuck and you might quit your job altogether,” says Colt.

“The Ultimate Micromanager”

Otter PR Director of HR, Tiffani Martinez, said in an email.

“Implementing these programs can also give the impression that executives and senior management do not trust their staff. Working has shown that employees are effective and trustworthy staff members who can complete projects remotely.Staff should be able to prove that they can do their job without constant supervision,” she said. recommended.

“In my 10+ years as an HR professional, I have seen job seekers quickly lose interest in the position after the recruiter talks candidly about these productivity technologies.” Martinez recalls.

Undesired result

“The use of these technologies, if not properly managed, can have the opposite effect as intended,” said Natalia Morozova, managing partner at immigration law firm Cohen, Tucker & Ades. I’m here.

“Not only does it fail to improve productivity, it can negatively impact employee morale and create a cultural disconnect. It’s important to question whether you’re contributing,” she said.

“We need to set boundaries to avoid the constant need for oversight and productivity to prevent employee burnout and maintain higher levels of engagement and greater output,” Morozova said. recommends Mr.

mental anguish

Mental distress “is, in my opinion, the most significant disadvantage. about implementing productivity and monitoring technology,” Adam Garcia, owner of iThe Stock Dork, an investor and stock market education platform, warned in an email.

“Rather than improving productivity, surveillance can lower employee morale. Employees assume you don’t trust them, and when employees are suspected, turnover increases. This problem can be avoided by warning staff in advance that monitoring software is being used and that it is normal workplace policy. I understand the process and they are not selected,” he advised.

need a strong manager

Amanda Richardson, CEO of CoderPad, a technology evaluation platform, said:

In an email, she said:

• “I don’t know how to build trust, give direction, and understand reasonable output.
• “We didn’t set goals for results and business impact (for inputs like time on screen).
• “I don’t understand the work their team is doing or the value of it. Writing emails, for example, is not a good use of my time. Thinking time is much more valuable. An hour of thinking about a good or unique solution that generates a 2-line email is much better than a 20-line email that says nothing.
• “They have unrealistic or unclear expectations because they don’t really understand what their job is.”

“My advice? Use the money you spend on tracking software to train stronger managers instead, or fire and replace them,” she advised.