Having a combination of both work from home and the office, organizations are embracing the use of employee monitoring software (EMS) as a way of improving productivity, security and overall performance. This complete guide will address what employee monitoring software is, its advantages, ethical issues, important software attributes and procedures to follow in identifying the appropriate software for your organization.
What is Employee Monitoring Software?
The term employee monitoring software refers to the software tools that are meant to track and monitor the actions of the employee while they use the organization’s machines or perform work within a certain company’s premises. Such software is capable of surveillance including application usage, internet usage, active tasks, working time and keyboard activity. Such tools come with different features such as GPS voice recording and video capturing, such that the organizations gain big information on the employees’ performance and the level of productivity which is observed. For example, Controlio is an effective employee monitoring tool. You can also use it for productivity analytics.
Advantages of Employee Monitoring Software
Increase in Productivity
One of the key rudiments that come with ECM is increasing productivity levels in the organization. Tracking employees on how they spend their time allows organizations pinpoint the areas within their processes that will end up wasting time and give direction on how such work processes should be reconsidered. This leads to an organization that is more goal-oriented and achieves more results within the time allocated.
Increased Responsiveness
For instance, when monitoring software is implemented, employees know that their movements are being monitored. This may help to create a requirement that they follow work schedules and perform better than they would have without such an expectation.
Data Protection
In the modern world where data breaches are rampant, the use of employee monitoring software comes in handy. The wrongdoing takes the form of sending non-work-related information either via email or other communication means which can trigger a security breach.
Team Management
In an era where remote working is the new normal, managing a team without physically being present can be tough. EMS enables managers to manage remote workforce unrelentingly ensuring that they are working and active.
Employee Performance
Most employee monitoring software includes analytical tools enabling organizations to measure performance on a team basis. Surveys performers undertaken by employers relating to productivity help employers determine whether it is necessary to promote or raise pay.
Evaluating Ethical Factors
There are many advantages that come with the use of employee surveillance software but it also issues ethical concerns regarding privacy and trust. It is very important that such subordinates learn the need for such violation of the employee’s space. Here are some ethical considerations that should be addressed in order to avoid the issues mentioned above:
● Being Open: Organizations should not hide the rules and policies about monitoring. Employees need to understand what kind of information is being gathered and for which purposes.
● Purpose Limitation: Monitoring should be done only for proper business needs. Intrusive methods that offer little or no gains to employers or their staff should be avoided by employers.
● Data Protection: There is also a responsibility of the employers in making sure that the data that is gathered is taken care of and utilized appropriately. Organizations ought to have unambiguous terms for how long the data can be preserved and who can access it.
Things To Consider
Important features that need to be considered when selecting employee monitoring software are the following:
Activity Tracking: Seek activities monitoring software which comprehensively outlines how employee time is utilized including apps used, websites visited and tasks completed. This feature provides a comprehensive view of how employees are utilizing their time.
Screen Monitoring: Real-time screen capture enables managers to monitor exactly what employees are working on in the present time. This feature is useful with regard to the productivity of the employees and any problems that may arise.
GPS Tracking: For organizations with remote or field employees, GPS tracking can help monitor the locations of employees and guarantee that they carry out their work tasks.
Reporting And Analytics: Well formulated reporting elements can be used to evaluate the trends of individual performance and productivity over a defined period. Similarly, reports must be tailored to the requirements of the organization, hence possibility of generating specific reports for diverse users.
Integration Capabilities: Opt for software that can work with the tools and systems that you already use. This can simplify workflow and improve the efficiency of work.
Employee monitoring software can prove to be a beneficial asset in improving productivity. It is beneficial to organizations to be able to know the advantages and ethical issues as well as the important peculiarities to consider if monitoring solutions are to be adopted.
