Published on December 8th, 2018 | by Sunit Nandi

Why monitoring your employees’ behavior can backfire

Every company has its own way of improving the productivity of their employees. Some companies are known to interact with their employees more while others have resort to employee monitoring. When it comes to employee monitoring there are several technologies that are available in today’s time that will help you to track the behavior of your employee. With the help of employee monitoring, you can monitor the work engagement and activities of your employees. A company that makes use of employee monitoring technology can easily measure work productivity, ensure security and track attendance of its employees. There is so many employees monitoring software that you can avail these days. One fine example is the applicant tracking systems. However, making use of this employee monitoring technology also has a downside to itself.

The cons of employee monitoring

Companies resort to employee monitoring in order to increase the productivity of the workers. However, at the same time, it may also backfire in certain cases. There are several disadvantages that are associated with employee monitoring. The main disadvantages include the following:

Effect on morale: Making use of employee monitoring systems may make your employees feel that you don’t trust them. This may in return harm the relationship between you and your employees and in some cases, they may even start to rebel which will only bring damage to your company. So if you are thinking to implement such measures in your company make sure that you are confident about it.
Increased stress: When your employees know that they are being monitored 24/7 they work under stress. This, as a result, may reduce the work quality of the employers. It is true that employee monitoring systems are used to ensure more productivity but in some cases, it generates the opposite results. If you look at the situation from an employee’s point of view then you will understand better that how employee monitoring is having a negative impact on their work productivity.
Lack of privacy: Another problem that the employees may face with employee monitoring is the lack of privacy. If you are making use of employee monitoring then it’s obvious that you are keeping an eye on your employees 24/7. This may take away their freedom and privacy while they are in the office. This may result in increased frustration in the employees. Therefore, you need to set a limit with your employee monitoring.

Thus, you can see the number of problems that may arise by implementing employee monitoring software in your company. It is understandable that you expect 100% effort from your employees but at the same time you need to put yourself in their shoes and think of the situation. You need to understand what they feel and go through while they are being monitored all the time. The only way to increase productivity is by building a good relationship with your employees.

Well, now you know the downsides of employee monitoring. So if you plan to implement it make sure that weigh the pros and cons of it first.

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Tags: backfire, employees, monitoring

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.