According to research, the majority of UK companies (81%) track their employees to prevent “quiet vacationing”, where workers take unauthorised leave without requesting it.
What does this tell us about trust between employers and employees?
Kinly’s research reveals a growing reliance by businesses on tracking and analytics to combat disengagement. Kinly’s Trusted Connections report revealed that two thirds of UK businesses (67%) believe tracking helps to prevent ‘quiet quitters’ where employees are disengaged and perform only the bare essentials.
The results show that UK companies are adopting a proactive monitoring approach, and investing more in workplace analytics. Although tracking has increased efficiency, the long-term effects on morale and employee trust are still uncertain.
Tracking and Analytics: Increased Investment
Research shows that tracking technologies have a tangible impact on productivity. Over two-thirds of companies that use employee monitoring report an increase in remote worker productivity, and 66 percent see similar results for office employees.
The investment in workplace analytics has increased as a result. Over a third of companies (34%) are investing in data platforms for remote working and analytics. Meanwhile, 35 percent focus on data platforms in the office to improve efficiency.
Businesses are increasingly using employee location data for purposes other than productivity tracking. Over three quarters (76%) already collect or plan to collect IP and location data on employees to track where they work. Nearly half (37%) of organisations have already implemented this practice.
Employee morale, wellbeing and happiness are important concerns
The research highlights concerns over the potential downsides to workplace monitoring, despite the productivity gains. Although 65 percent of organizations say that tracking has improved employee well-being, its long-term impact is uncertain.
Another key concern is morale. While 61 per cent of businesses report improved morale after introducing tracking, there are still questions about whether monitoring is an effective method to create a positive work culture.
Some companies are also rethinking their approach to working remotely. There is a debate about whether or not tracking alone is sufficient to combat disengagement. 19 percent of companies want to return to their offices by 2025.
Balance tracking and workplace culture
Katy Thorpe is the Global People Director for Kinly. She said that tracking can be a valuable tool, but it cannot replace strong leadership and a healthy work environment.
She said that businesses need to consider whether they use data to help their employees, or just to monitor them. “The companies who succeed will be the ones that integrate analytics into an broader strategy that prioritizes trust, engagement and well-being – instead of relying solely on tracking to boost performance.”
She said, “As organizations continue to invest in workplace analytics and many adopt remote work data platforms, in-office analytics will have the challenge of ensuring that tracking does not erode trust, but rather drives engagement.”
According to the findings, a balanced approach that incorporates technology and a strong work culture is best for improving productivity and employee satisfaction.
