Study finds workplace monitoring on the rise

A third of UK employers are using employee monitoring or "bossware" technology to track the activity of staff, according to a UK-wide survey by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The most common methods include monitoring emails and web browsing, with one in seven employers also recording or reviewing screen activity.

The report indicates that while some employers use the technology to prevent insider threats and safeguard sensitive information, the trend is causing unease among many managers. A significant minority of them said the practice undermines trust and invades personal privacy. In response to the CMIs' findings, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has warned that employers must be transparent about the nature and extent of any monitoring and that excessive surveillance, especially for those working from home, can be damaging. 

Training Announcement: Freevacy offers a range of independent data protection qualifications from IAPP and BCS. Our certified courses are available at foundation and practitioner levels and cover multiple legal jurisdictions, data protection operations management, and the implementation of complex privacy solutions in technical environments. Find out more.