UK companies are increasingly using a type of software called “bossware” to watch over their employees. A recent survey by the Chartered Management Institute found that around a third of employers are keeping an eye on workers' online activities, like emails and web browsing, and about 14% check what's on their screens.
Managers say they use this technology to protect company data and catch any drop in work performance, but many people disagree. Nearly half of the managers surveyed are against this practice, saying it breaks trust and feels like being watched all the time. Some of these tools even record what people type, take screenshots, or notice when someone is not working.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has told companies they need to be clear about any monitoring they do and warned that too much tracking might break privacy rules, especially when workers are at home. Although some banks and consulting firms are already trying out cameras, biometric scans, or checks on how often people are at work, more people are starting to object—some even say they would leave their jobs if the level of monitoring gets worse.
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