The latest survey by ExpressVPN highlights the alarming rise of employee monitoring in the UK, revealing that 85% of employers actively monitor their employees' online activities, up from 78% in the previous study. While management often justifies these monitoring practices as necessary for productivity, nearly half of workers report increased stress, diminished trust, and an unsettling feeling of being constantly observed.
The survey indicates that 45% of employees suspect their activities are being tracked. These tools include tracking emails, web usage, active work hours, and real-time screen activity. In many cases, monitoring even encroaches into personal domains.
Most employers claim that monitoring contributes to productivity, yet employees view these measures as invasive and potentially detrimental to workplace morale. The ethical divide is stark; 42% of workers find monitoring unethical, while 51% would consider quitting if subjected to constant surveillance. Many employees are unaware that such monitoring is permissible under UK law for legitimate business purposes, further exacerbating feelings of distrust.
In addition, the pressure of being observed affects mental well-being, with 46% of employees reporting anxiety, particularly among 18-24 year old workers. Despite the evident stress induced by these practices, a considerable number of employers do not recognise the psychological toll on their staff, of whom 70% claim monitoring boosts trust, morale, and productivity within their teams.
However, the impact of constant surveillance leads to 27% of workers taking fewer breaks, 35% feeling a lack of trust, 29% feeling stressed about potential misinterpretation of their actions, and 23% feeling pressure to work longer hours. Then, of course, come the tactics to counter surveillance activities, such as 18% of employees keeping unnecessary applications or websites open, 18% performing minimal tasks periodically to show activity, and 13% logging into communication tools from a mobile device to appear online.
As workplace surveillance becomes increasingly pervasive, 79% of UK employees want stronger regulations to control workplace surveillance technology.

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