The survey indicates a rise in workplace surveillance compared to previous years
More than three-quarters of UK employers are using surveillance technologies to monitor the productivity of their remote workforce, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted by ExpressVPN, found that 85 per cent of the 1,000 workplaces surveyed admitted to using some form of monitoring tool.
The findings highlight a growing trend of corporate surveillance in remote work settings. The most common method involved tracking active work hours, reported by 54 per cent of employers. Additionally, 36 per cent monitored employees’ emails, while 28 per cent scrutinised chat logs.
More invasive techniques were also reported. Over a quarter of employers (27 per cent) admitted to monitoring employees’ screens in real time, while 15 per cent tracked keystrokes. Location tracking was confirmed by 20 per cent, raising concerns for digital nomads who work from varying locations.
Rise In Corporate Surveillance
The survey indicates a rise in workplace surveillance compared to previous years. In 2023, 78 per cent of employers admitted to monitoring their staff, suggesting that corporate tracking practices are becoming more widespread.
Lauren Hendry Parsons, a digital privacy advocate at ExpressVPN, commented on the findings: “These findings highlight an urgent need for greater transparency and trust in the workplace. Employers must strike a balance between enabling productivity and respecting employee privacy, no matter where their employees are working.”
Regulatory Landscape & Employee Awareness
Despite the widespread use of surveillance tools, the UK has no specific laws mandating or prohibiting the technological monitoring of employees. Current regulations, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the Data Protection Act 2018, require that surveillance be proportionate, transparent, and conducted for legitimate business purposes.
However, the survey revealed that 38 per cent of respondents were unaware of this legal ambiguity. Furthermore, 79 per cent believed that the government should implement stricter oversight of workplace monitoring practices.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection watchdog, has issued guidance on employee monitoring through its Employment Practices Code. While the code advises employers to inform staff about when and how they are being monitored, compliance with these guidelines is not legally enforced.
Balancing Privacy & Productivity
As the debate over employee monitoring continues, experts stress the importance of maintaining a balance between productivity and privacy. Employers are urged to adopt transparent practices and communicate clearly with their workforce about surveillance measures.
The findings underline the need for a national conversation on the ethical implications of monitoring remote employees and how to ensure a fair and respectful working environment in the digital age.