Remote work has numerous benefits for both employees and employers. Yet, without direct supervision, the work habits of some employees can fade and the problem of time theft can become a major issue for your company.

In the U.S., companies lose around $400 billion per year due to time theft, which includes prolonged breaks, unproductive actions, buddy punching, and incorrect time logging. Issues like these affect around 75% of companies.

Can you vouch for the reliability of your employees?

Your company could detect the extent of time theft in your company, cut related costs, and improve your bottom line through the introduction of one cost-effective digital tool. This is a remote tracking software and the key lies in its transparent implementation with employee privacy in mind.

This article lists all the pros and cons of implementing this type of software as well as proven tips for protecting employee privacy while doing so.

Benefits & Challenges of Remote Monitoring Tools

Let’s take a look at the most prominent pros and cons of remote monitoring tools:

Pros of Using Remote Monitoring Tools

Improved Security

Remote employee monitoring software can do a lot to reinforce the company’s cybersecurity. Primarily, it easily detects and alerts about any risky online behaviors that can endanger company security systems. It also tracks employee activities and ensures that company equipment is used properly.

Increased Employee Engagement & Productivity

Some remote employee tracking software allow creating a list of productive resources for every position within the company. With this input and the record of employee activities software can calculate everyone’s productivity. When employees know that they are being monitored in this way, they are more likely to display improved dedication and productivity.

More Accurate Estimations & Billing

Unreliable estimations and inconsistent records of time spent on projects can make your company look unprofessional. This is why automatic time tracking is the basis of good relationships with your clients. It allows you to gather enough data for precise estimations. Also, once you start a project, you can track the exact amount of time your team spent working.

Time Waste Reduction

With detailed and transparent employee activity surveillance, companies ensure everyone is dedicated to their job during the core hours. Thanks to the analysis of activity records, you can also estimate the standard slow-pace times. To minimize the waste of time and company money, you can introduce educational opportunities so your employees can utilize this time.

Cons of Using Remote Monitoring Tools

Privacy Concerns

Employees often worry that monitoring software can endanger their privacy. Questions like whether the software stores and sells private passwords or bank account details are among the top concerns. This is why you should choose a trusted tool and be completely transparent about the level of surveillance.

Legal Issues

Every state has its laws that regulate worker monitoring. Extensive monitoring can lead to information leaks that can bring about identity theft. This is why your legal team needs to ensure you don’t overstep any of your employees’ rights when implementing monitoring software.

Potential Drop in Employee Morale & Trust

Some workers observe computer monitoring as a form of micromanagement. This can cause distrust, resentment, and a drop in morale. Employees may also feel that the surveillance efforts mean that the employer doesn’t appreciate them. All this might spark a rise in the employee turnover rate.

Best Practices for Implementing Remote Monitoring while Respecting Employee Privacy

Here are the top strategies that can enable you to implement remote monitoring software while protecting the privacy of your employees:

Explore All Legal Requirements for Employee Monitoring

Employee monitoring laws vary from country to country and from state to state. While in the U.S. the majority of states allow surveillance without employee consent, some states do require a prior notification. If you employ European citizens, remember to look into GDPR, while employing Canadian citizens means you must familiarize yourself with PIPEDA.

The main takeaway here is to explore all related laws before proceeding with remote monitoring software implementation.

Provide Your Employees With Company Computers

Although it may seem more cost-efficient, having your employees work on personal computers is actually putting your company’s data at great risk.

Personal computers’ security is usually poor compared to company computers. Besides, employees may feel more reluctant to install remote monitoring software due to privacy concerns. The best way to ensure security and surveillance is to provide a company device with pre-installed security and monitoring software.

Inform Your Employees about Monitoring & Its Extent

When implementing employee monitoring software, it’s all about honesty. Implementing it without telling your employees or without sharing the details creates suspicion and affects morale.

Being completely transparent about the level, way, and reasons of monitoring usually has a positive effect on the employer-employee relationship. It’s also a good idea to give them access to their reports and be ready to answer all their questions.

Choose Software that Allows Monitoring Customization

Opt for the remote monitoring software that allows you to select the level of monitoring. This way you can record every activity you need for productivity and security tracking while also protecting employee privacy.

This is why you should reassess your monitoring efforts occasionally and stop recording any type of data you don’t need. Think whether you truly need to:

• Take screenshots from messaging apps.
• Monitor keystrokes.
• Track overall use of company computers or only during work hours.

Clearly Define Remote Work Policies

Clear written policies regarding remote work monitoring are crucial for all remote teams. Ensure you define the level of monitoring in your organization’s Remote Work Policy. Make this document available to all employees at all times.

Also, include detailed expectations from remote employees. Your HR should share these documents with employees as soon as they join the company. This way, people will know upfront what is expected of them, what is allowed, and what is not.

Conclusion

The level of remote employee monitoring in your company will depend on the nature of your industry. Yet, these guidelines can help you create an environment that is more considerate of employee privacy. This will enable you to boost employee engagement, productivity, and loyalty, reducing employee turnover and amplifying the contribution of your remote teams.