In the brave new world of hybrid work, where the lines between office and home are blurred, employers are navigating uncharted waters. Some have resorted to a draconian approach, implementing surveillance measures to monitor their employees’ productivity. Yet, evidence is mounting that such Big Brother tactics may not be just ineffective but also downright detrimental to productivity and morale.

The surveillance backlash

According to a recent Glassdoor survey of 2,300 U.S. professionals, 41% report feeling less productive when they know their bosses are monitoring their work devices. This sentiment is particularly strong among workers in finance and tech sectors, who report that surveillance negatively affects their work output. Meanwhile, 36% of workers are unsure whether their activities are being monitored.

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