'Now is the time for employers to be open about what they track and why': Employees say more bosses are using tracking software — and want it to be publicly declared

Recent research shows that nearly three-fifths (59%) of UK employees believe their company utilizes monitoring software to keep track of their activities, which includes everything from attendance to computer usage such as mouse movements, keyboard input, and meeting participation. A staggering 82% of workers think employers should be required to declare their use of such monitoring tools, a requirement that is not currently mandated by law.

However, despite the rising use of these tracking technologies, presumably spurred by the post-pandemic rise of hybrid work, the Owl Labs report posits that such surveillance does not provide any significant insights into work performance.

The most frequently monitored activities, according to the data, are logging in and out (32%), the number of meetings attended (22%), screen and mouse movements (17%), and keyboard usage (15%). Regrettably, some workers are resorting to clever tactics to circumvent the tracking metrics. Over a quarter (28%) of UK workers admit to phantom meeting attendance, meaning they indicate they have attended a meeting or take part in it without truly giving it their full attention, only catching up later through notes and summaries. This practice is more prevalent among managers (33%) than non-managers (15%).

Moreover, the study highlights an upsurge in AI avatar interest, with 50% of managers and 21% of non-managers contemplating the use of an avatar to attend meetings on their behalf, thus diminishing the relevance of meeting attendance metrics. The impact of hybrid work on workplace monitoring is complex, revealing both productivity losses and the primary culprit: subpar technical equipment.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of UK workers reported losing time due to technical difficulties during hybrid meetings, with audio issues being the most significant hindrance. On average, workers spend six minutes to get a hybrid meeting up and running.

Owl Labs CEO Frank Weishaupt advises companies to be more transparent about the tracking practices they employ, as this move could enhance trust between employees and management. Given that the government is currently reviewing potential regulatory measures for workplace monitoring, Weishaupt suggests that it is now the opportune moment for employers to openly share what they track and the reasons behind it. Ultimately, trust and dependable technology are paramount to productivity and employee retention.