In 2024, almost half of all employees experience their online activity being monitored by their employers, according to new research.
A poll of 2,000 employed Americans by Forbes Advisor via OnePoll found that 68% of employees report there being at least one thing they’d be embarrassed to have their employer monitor.
Hybrid employees report a higher rate of workplace monitoring — 48% of hybrid employees report their employer monitors them, as opposed to 37% of fully remote employees.
Four in 10 (39%) report that their employer monitoring their online activity has a negative impact on their relationship with their employer, and 43% say it negatively affects company morale.
Four in 10 respondents also report that online monitoring has a positive impact on their productivity.
One in three have had activity from their employer’s online surveillance used in their performance reviews.
Another one in five (18%) report stress and anxiety from being monitored by their employer, while 16% report taking fewer breaks.
Notably, the extent of surveillance varies across different work environments. Hybrid workers, who split their time between office and remote locations, report a higher level of monitoring, with 48% stating their online activities are observed by their employers.
In contrast, 37% of fully remote employees experience similar levels of scrutiny. This data suggests that the physical location of work plays a role in how closely employers monitor online behavior.
A concerning aspect of this trend is the lack of formal communication about surveillance policies.
Only 32% of employees report receiving clear guidelines or policies regarding the monitoring of their online activities in the workplace. This lack of transparency raises questions about employee awareness and consent in these practices.
One in four say that workplace surveillance makes them uncomfortable.
The sentiment towards workplace surveillance reveals a spectrum of comfort levels among employees.
According to the responses, 30% of participants feel very comfortable with their online activities being monitored while working. Another 27% express a degree of ease, categorizing themselves as somewhat comfortable with this oversight.
On the other end of the spectrum, the data uncovers a significant portion of the workforce harboring discomfort. About 16% of respondents fall into the somewhat uncomfortable category, and 9% categorize themselves as very uncomfortable with the idea of their employer monitoring their online activity.
These figures together show that approximately one in four employees experience some level of discomfort with this practice.
Three in 10 (27%) report that they would likely quit their job if their employer decided to monitor their online activity.
The subject of employer surveillance extends beyond privacy concerns, touching on personal embarrassment.
A significant 68% of employees admit there’s at least one facet of their online activity that would cause them discomfort if monitored by their employer.
The leading cause for embarrassment, experienced by 37% of respondents, is messages with personal friends or significant others being observed by employers. This suggests a strong desire for personal communication to remain private, even during work hours.
Researching new job opportunities while on the clock is another sensitive area, with 27% of workers feeling uneasy about their employer witnessing this activity.
Google searches and visited websites are private territories for 25% and 24% of employees, respectively, revealing a reluctance to have their digital footprints and interests scrutinized at work.
Editorial Note: This story was originally published on Forbes Advisor.
