You're being watched...
Oct 18, 2023
6 ways your work is monitoring you, and what you can do about it
Have you ever sat at your desk and wondered if you're being watched? Do you notice that you're taking fewer breaks or working extra hours out of fear that someone might use it against you?
If you're working from home, it's likely that you are being monitored. So, let's focus on what this means and what you can do about it.
While it's not yet clear in Australia what percentage of companies monitor their employees, in the US, 96% of respondents to a mid-March survey said they use some form of employee monitoring software. Furthermore:
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1/3 require employees to be on a live, monitored video feed
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3/4 have fired employees because of the monitoring software
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97% believe that the software has increased productivity
However, this data doesn't tell us the percentage of employees who feel anxious as a result, or how 7 out of 10 employees have quit their jobs because they did not want to be monitored.
Is it legal?
According to UNSW, the legality varies from state to state in Australia, however if organisations provide adequate legal notice to employees, they may monitor employees.
The best way to check is to review your employment contract, inspect your email inbox, or inquire with your HR team.
6 monitoring techniques
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Video Surveillance: If your computer has a camera, it may be recording you, including still photos and video footage.
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Audio Recording: Voice recordings can be captured and stored in the organisation's database.
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Location: Your geographical location can be tracked, and if you're required to come into the office with a specific quota, they can locate your device to see if you've met the quota.
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Keystrokes and Mouse Activity: People have lost their jobs because they didn't perform enough keystroke activities, and this termination was supported by FairWork Australia.
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Work Status: If you're offline or inactive, they'll know.
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Browser Activity: Visiting non-work-related sites, such as news articles, social media, or Gmail, will likely trigger an alert.
3 things you can do about it?
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Separate Work from Personal: Using your work computer, whether during or outside working hours, should never be for personal use, even for minor tasks. If you find yourself doing this, make a personal commitment to stop immediately. Alternatively, create a routine to handle personal tasks when your computer is switched off.
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Use Your Office for Work Only: Ensure that your office space is used exclusively for work. Activities like getting dressed, doing your makeup, or talking on the phone to a friend could be seen and heard by your work computer.
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Check Your Rights: If you're in an unfortunate workplace where your boss is overstepping boundaries, consult your union or an independent lawyer. Don't simply ignore the issue.
If you are genuinely uncomfortable, ask yourself whether this employer is the right fit for you. What are you not willing to accept in exchange for a paycheck!
And, reach out if you need any coaching, we’re here to help!