"What started during the pandemic as a temporary fix to keep remote teams productive has become standard operating procedure in too many workplaces. Once the expectation, things like keystroke logging, screenshot captures, app usage tracking and even webcam monitoring are now embedded in the employee experience. For some HR leaders, these tools felt like the only way to manage an unexpected shift to remote work. But several years later, we're facing the side effects of this surveillance revolution-and they're not small."
"When it came to questions about workplace surveillance, around a third of respondents -whether they worked remotely, onsite or on a hybrid schedule-said "their employers constantly watched them on the job." Demographic breakdowns of these answers make this conversation even more interesting. Employees under 40, men and people in managerial and executive roles were more likely to feel like they're under constant surveillance. A February 2025 Wired article cited that up to 80% of large U.S. employers now use some form of employee monitoring."
Workplace surveillance tools introduced during the pandemic have become common, including keystroke logging, screenshots, app-usage tracking, and webcam monitoring. Many HR leaders initially adopted these tools to maintain productivity during remote work. Widespread monitoring has produced significant side effects, eroding employee trust and increasing disengagement and resentment. An ADP survey of nearly 38,000 workers found about one-third reported employers constantly watched them, with younger employees, men, and managers more likely to feel surveilled. A Wired report found up to 80% of large U.S. employers use monitoring. Employee pushback has led to reputational damage, leaks, regulatory probes, and risks to talent pipelines.
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