Could the relentless eye of workplace surveillance be the silent assassin of your mental health and productivity?
At a Glance
- Employee anxiety rises due to increased workplace surveillance.
- AI tools track employee productivity and activities.
- Surveillance can lead to higher pressure, reduced morale, and workplace injuries.
- Distrust and lack of transparency damage employee morale.
Employee Anxiety and Surveillance
Surveillance in the workplace isn’t a new phenomenon, but its pervasiveness is raising alarms. Over two-thirds of 1,300 surveyed employees reported being watched by employers, leading to anxiety and pressure to perform faster. The fear of underperforming under such scrutiny hampers mental well-being. Anxiety and stress become constant companions as the relentless monitoring compromises employee morale and disrupts productivity. For those constantly monitored, workplace injuries requiring medical attention were reported by 7%, starkly higher than the 2% noted among unmonitored workers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NlWmaRdicc
AI technologies are employed to track employees’ every move, from location to productivity metrics. This kind of oversight is prevalent particularly in industries like information, transportation, mining, and retail. While some claim these measures can enhance productivity, the lack of transparency and the feeling of invasion persist. Employees report intrusive surveillance morphs into distrust, with 43% feeling distrusted by their employers. Surveillance undermines creativity and collaboration as employees focus more on meeting monitored metrics rather than engaging in innovative work.
Impact on Employee Morale and Productivity
The pressures of surveillance extend beyond anxiety, fostering an environment of fear and unease. Forty-three percent of workers in a survey expressed feeling distrusted by their employers, exacerbating stress levels for 38%. Such a climate stifles innovation, with 47% of employees reporting self-censorship and 28% resorting to ‘theatrics’ to appear busy. Unchecked monitoring can thus hinder productivity, dimming the spark of creativity essential for meaningful contributions.
Employee surveillance, though intended to boost productivity and reduce security risks, often ends up alienating the workforce. The gap between employer transparency and employee understanding of surveillance underscores a lack of trust and openness. In fact, 37% of US workers directly link surveillance to declining mental well-being, with nearly 46% expressing feelings of privacy invasion. Such sentiments contribute to high turnover and foster toxic work cultures.
Work has changed – but employers need to really think about what’s right for their business and for their employees. If they don’t…well…they won’t get the productivity they need.
And with AI causing major disruption in the workplace, too? The government might soon need to step in.
