Employee Monitoring Software: Overview, Benefits, Features, and Examples
Who uses the software?
Employee Monitoring Software is commonly used by businesses of all sizes, from small startups to global corporations. It is primarily used by employers and IT departments to monitor employee activities on workplace devices (computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones) during work hours. This software can also be used by freelancers or independent contractors who need to track their hours and activities for billing purposes.
Benefits of the software
The benefits of using Employee Monitoring Software are numerous. Here are just a few:
1. Increased productivity: Employers can monitor how employees are spending their time on work devices and identify and eliminate time-wasting activities or distractions.
2. Improved data security: Monitoring software allows employers to keep track of sensitive data being shared or transmitted by employees and prevent data breaches.
3. Capacity utilization: It helps businesses know when employees are under or over-utilized and keep staffing at an efficient level to reduce costs.
4. Evaluation: managers can review employee performance and take steps to improve areas of deficiency.
Features of Employee Monitoring Software
Employee Monitoring Software typically has the following features:
1. Time Tracking: It allows employers to keep track of when employees start and end their workdays and how much time they spend on different tasks.
2. Screenshot capture: It can take screenshots of the employee’s screen at specified intervals, to ensure that the work assigned is being done by the employee.
3. Monitoring of Internet usage: It tracks the websites accessed, apps used, files downloaded, and keystrokes typed by employees.
4. Tracking of emails and chats: It allows employers to monitor employee email and chat conversations to ensure that they are in line with company policies.
5. Remote Monitoring: It can monitor employees working remotely and keep track of their location, activity, and time spent on different tasks.
Examples of Employee Monitoring Software
1. Teramind (teramind.co): This software offers comprehensive employee monitoring, including activity tracking, email tracking, and keystroke logging, and it includes optional web content filtering. Teramind is suitable for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
2. SentryPC (sentrypc.com): SentryPC offers extensive employee monitoring features include computer usage tracking, keystroke logging, and application tracking. Businesses can use it to monitor remote workers, track productivity, and prevent data theft.
3. ActivTrak (activtrak.com): This Software offers time tracking, application monitoring, web usage tracking, and productivity analysis. It is used by businesses of all sizes, from startups to large corporations.
4. Toggl Track (toggl.com/track): This software is ideal for freelancers, remote teams, and small businesses. It provides simple time tracking for all activities, archive history, and productivity analysis to optimize projects.
5. Hubstaff (hubstaff.com): This software is used to track time, activity, and projects of remote teams. It has a GPS tracking feature that enables employers to track the location of on-field employees.
How to Use Employee Monitoring Software
Employee Monitoring Software is easy to use, and its setup is generally the same for all software. It starts with purchasing or subscribing to your preferred software, then setting it up on the devices you want to monitor. Once installed, you can customize the software settings according to your needs. You can configure it to send you notifications for certain activities, and you can access the collected data from a central dashboard that provides real-time monitoring of employee activities.
Drawbacks and Limitations of Employee Monitoring Software
Like any other tool, Employee Monitoring Software may also come with some drawbacks and limitations. Here are a few:
1. Can lead to a loss of trust: Employees might be hesitant to give their full effort if they feel constantly monitored by their employer.
2. Potential legal compliance issues: Laws of specific jurisdictions require employers to notify their employees they are being monitored, where rules are not clearly defined it might beat the risk to break local laws and instigate mistrust.
3. Companies might lose skilled workers: Monitoring software that is too invasive can quickly drive employees away to seek employment elsewhere.
4. May be expensive: Advanced employee monitoring software may require purchasing specific devices, which can increase operational expenses.
Conclusion
Employee Monitoring Software can help businesses keep track of employee productivity, compliance, data security, and overall cost-effectiveness. It is a valuable tool that can be used by employers and IT personnel to monitor the activities of staff and improve productivity and resource utilization. It is also essential to be mindful of the limitations and drawbacks that may accompany the use of employee monitoring software to mitigate any potential negative effects on the workplace culture. If used thoughtfully and in moderation, it can be a powerful tool for firms.