Trendspotting: Big Brother Is in Your Laptop

NewsWire: 5/26/22

• The rise of remote work has sent sales of corporate surveillance software soaring. Some are intended for use in the office, but others keep track of productivity and internet usage anywhere. (The Economist)
• NH: According to an analysis by Top10VPN, a digital security and VPN firm, internet searches for employee surveillance software skyrocketed at the beginning of the pandemic. In March 2020, searches were +80% higher than the 2019 monthly average. And while interest dipped last year, it's again on the rise. In Q1 2022, searches were +75% higher than the 2019 average. 

• This rise in interest has translated into increased sales for many surveillance companies. Time Doctor, a company that records workers' computer screens, reported that in April 2020, its accounts tripled from a year prior. And TimeDesk, a company that tracks time spent on specific duties, said its accounts quadrupled.  
• What's driving this increase? Most analysts point to the rise in telecommuting. In spring 2020, many white-collar workers went remote for the first time, and employers wanted to ensure everyone was staying on task. Driving the recent rise in interest, I suspect, is the shift many companies are making to permanent hybrid schedules. (See "Americans Are Choosing to Work Remotely.") 
• Corporate surveillance software was already gaining in popularity before the pandemic began. Some of this technology was more tied to the physical office, like high-tech time cards that scan an employee's retina. But other programs were similar to what we see with telecommuting, like software that tracks keystrokes. (See "The Rise of 'Total Tech'.”)
• So how do people feel about being monitored? It depends on the technology. I suspect most people are fine with advanced keycards that monitor who is entering and leaving the office. But multiple surveys have shown that software that tracks employee productivity leads to distrust in management and higher stress levels.  
• Ultimately, attitudes fall along generational lines. To Xers and Boomers, this software screams Big Brother. But to many Millennials, these systems promote efficiency and optimization. But surely they would prefer a supervision system that offers carrots as well as sticks. Millennials want to be recognized for their hard work. Surveillance software firms would be well advised to broaden their package into a full-spectrum "employee credit" system that would dole out rewards, not just demerits.