Crystal Rae
Employee Monitoring can be one of the best trust-building tools between managers and their hires!
Sounds counterintuitive? I agree, it does. But a lot of that has to do with the fact that very feworganisationsimplement an employee monitoring procedure the way it is supposed to be! And the bad press that follows only makes it look worse!
We will talk in depth about the how’s and the whys of employee monitoring. But first let’s put some context to it. Like it or not, the pandemic situation has made it inevitable to have some kind of tracking system in place. Companies are wary of the tough current economic environment. No wonder, almost every company now keeps some track of employee activity using best employee monitoring software power packed with keyboard tracking, video conferencing, screen tracking and other rich features.
Monitoring employees is a double-edged sword.It requires managers to be a little more astute in their communication to get it right. But just as any swordsman worth his salt will tell you, once you tame your weapon to your will, you can create absolute magic with it. Employee monitoring when done right showers in a windfall of business benefits for both employer and employee!
What is in it for the employer /manager?
- STRONG EDIFICE ON STRONG PILLARS – IMPROVED PROFITS AND GROWTH:
A business is only as good as its people. They are your biggest asset! With a little caviar though. (There always are caviars,aren’t’ there?)
Just like strong buildings stand on strong pillars, but also just like most building that fall fall precisely because their pillars were not strong, your people make or break your business.
Managers have a continuous challenge to boost and maintain employee productivity. Give too loose a leash, it backfires. Hold too tight, it backfires. Optimum employee productivity is a healthy balance of creative freedom and responsible discipline.
Monitoring employees helps you strike this balance perfectly. And once find your sweet spot, benefits are immense.
Business growth, improved profits and streamlined operations are definitely the big takeaways. But also, employee happiness and satisfaction are a pleasant side benefit.
- WORKPLACE DECORUM WITH LESSER UNTOWRD INCIDENCES – TRUE RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM
Incidences of employee non-compliance or misconduct are a pain for everyone involved.
Why leave room for such mishaps in the first place?
With solidremote monitoring cloud-based tools with robust data-driven features, you nip the evil in the bad by leaving fewer chances of such events happening. Decorum boosts performance and everyone is happy at the end of the day!
- ACCURATE BILLING – COLLECT YOUR TRUE COUNT
For those businesses that are based on a per-hour billing model, accurate billing is always a pain point. Reaching a reasonable consensus with the client is always a little difficult. But it gets doubly tough when you cannot accurately assess even your own input hours!
Remote monitoring through modern tools makes accurate billing a breeze.
- TRANSPARENT APPRAISAL WITH EVIDENCE-BACKED FEEDBACK:
With most modern employee monitoring software leveraging the power of data, you can be transparent with your hire, come appraisal time.
Provide data backed evidence-based reasons for your feedback and the employee receives them with a much better attitude.
- IMPROVED PROJECT MANAGEMENT – CLOCKWORK EFFICIENCY:
With valuable employee behaviour data during workhours, project managersmake much better estimates of time, scope, schedule and costs of projects. Smooth project execution makes everyone relaxed and happy!
Now, the other side of the coin. Employee monitoring actually helps the employeestoo. Let’s see:
- PROTECTION FROM FALSE LAWSUITS AND MISTAKEN PENALTIES:
Looking at the transparent feedback issue from the flipside, employees can also plead their case with data-backed evidence-based arguments in case of false lawsuits.
With everything transparent, it is also easy to sort out cases when managers mistakenly penalise employees.
- CRUCIAL SUPPRORT AND PUSH TO EMPLOYEES:
Not everyone is wired to be self-driven and self-disciplined. Sometime employees are just not able to push themselves to peak performance despite being sincere and motivated,
Remote monitoring with advanced provides crucial encouragement to employees to go rough the work day with consistent performance. Video conferences helps get over the low tide of the day. Employee screen monitoring software can help managers spot slacking employees and just drop in that friendly word of encouragement to raise spirits again.
- THERE IS A TIME TO WORK, AND THERE IS A TIME TO PLAY – PROFESSIONAL SELF MANANGED EMPLOYEE:
An ideal employee keeps his work and personal lives separate. With just that optimum decorum through monitoring, employees get habitual and learn this crucial life skill.
Now, finally to the HOW to get the balance right to reap the benefit of employee monitoring.
There are two key facets to get the perfect employee monitoring brew.
- FULL DISCLOSURE AND FULL COMPLIANCE:
Corporate surveillance legislation makes it clear that employees must be notified when they are being monitored. So, make sure you notify them through a written document that they are being monitored.
Full disclosures about the minutiae of the trackingare a best practice. Clearly define the area they are being monitoredin, the areas where they have full privacy and the extent of the tracking.
- COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE – FOR ONCE, MORE IS MORE:
Communication holds the key to successful employee monitoring. You have to win their trust and keep them comfortable about it.Transparent communication with clearly defining the purpose of it is a must. Also allay their fear by clearly telling the grievance redressal policy and support systems. Employee monitoring is a collaborative exercise. It is almost like a new on-boarding procedure. You have to absolutely make sure that you and your hires are on the same page about it. Shared mutual understanding is the secret sauce that can make your employee monitoring aa runaway winner.
It is easy to swing left or swing right when you walk a rope. The skill of a dexterous rope artist is in striking the perfect middle ground. Remote monitoring is similarly a task were delicate balance trumps intense exuberance. Harness the power of modern technology with advanced intelligent sensors, IP camera and powerful data driven software to get that perfect combination. And believe me, once you crack the safe, there is a treasure hidden behind!
