Employee monitoring is the business process through which an organisation tracks its employees’ activities and monitors worker engagement. This is generally done through a software which allows the company to measure metrics such as attendance and productivity, while collecting proof of effective workhours and improving workplace security.
The practice goes all the way back to 1888, when the timesheet was invented. Since then, more sophisticated digital tools are used to track almost 100% of work-related employee activity. This includes internet and app usage, email, keystroke logging, location tracking by access badge, GPS tracking by vehicle, audio/video surveillance, phone use and computer screen recording.
The benefits of employee monitoring software
The first major benefit of employee monitoring software is that it can lead to less wasted time on the job. A full time job pays for 8 hours/day, but an employee can waste anywhere between 90 and 270 minutes of that time. With a wage of £13/hour, that means that you will lose over £3048/year if your employee wastes around 2 hours per day.
Employee monitoring software will not necessarily decrease the amount of time each employee spends on unproductive activities, but it will allow you to identify those activities and not add them to your payroll.
You will also be able to manage activities much more efficiently. If you notice that an employee is working on a low priority project, you can simply shoot them an email and ask them to switch to a more important task. On a similar note, you will be able to keep track of your most productive employees and have them up for promotion and other benefits.
Employee managing software collects vast amounts of data on its own, and this data can be used to gain insight into how your company operates. Your upper management will be able to identify productivity bottlenecks, reassign team members to projects based on their strengths and optimise business processes based on activity and performance data.
Introducing the Employee Management Software to your Company
While employee management software can come with many benefits, if it is not properly introduced, it can lead to lowered employee morale, higher stress, a perceived lack of privacy, and higher turnover. If employees understand the benefits, and that the software will be used in good faith, these negative effects can be avoided, and with proper introduction, employees might even become enthusiastic to implement the software.
The best way to do this is through a presentation. This can be a simple PowerPoint slide, or a Skype call with the team, and it should focus on the benefits for both the company and the employees. You can also take it a step further, and have employees weigh in on the software that you will end up implementing.
The list of benefits can include:
- No more unpaid hours, or underpaid positions. The software will help adequately reward hardworking employees.
- Payment will become automatic.
- They will be able to gain insights into their work habits, allowing them to become more productive.
- Daily and weekly reports will no longer be needed.
- Managers will no longer have to check-in on them, because they will stay up-to-date through the software.
- They will be a part of a more efficient team.
- Employees who excel will be better noticed and get the recognition they deserve.
This is then followed by writing a public policy. The best course of action here is to write in plain, friendly language, cover all of the monitoring that is being used, and distribute the policy to all your employees before the software is implemented. Make sure to include all relevant legal provisions, and provide guidance on what employees should do if they suspect that the policy is being violated, of if they have any suggestion that might improve it.
Once the software is implemented, it’s a good idea to encourage your employee’s to give feedback. This promotes trust and transparency, and makes the transition within the company a lot easier. You can ask for feedback throughout the implementation process or after it. For example, you can let employees know that you are open for feedback during the onboarding process, when you have a meeting for their check-in, when the company has a status meeting, or when a problem pops up.
With Eworks Manager, you will have access to a complete software package that includes employee monitoring tools. You will also have access to powerful modules such as asset and inventory tracking, CRM, invoice management and many others. For more information, contact us today, or try it out for yourself with a 14 day free trial.
