How to Make Workplace Monitoring Legal and Ethical

If you are an employer, it is only natural for you to wonder how your workers are spending their time at work and using your company information and other resources. Aside from concerns over productivity, another thing to worry about is the possibility of your company’s reputation being at risk because of the illegal or unethical online activities your workers are engaging in. Considering all these, it makes sense that you look for a monitoring system, such as the use of apps for spying, which will enable you to keep an eye on such risks. But then again, you have to know the difference between being protective of your company and invading your employees’ privacy.

Are Employers Entitled to Monitor Their Employees?

Yes, it is the legal right of any employer to monitor the activities of their employees in the workplace. Regardless of whether their employees give their consent or not, employers are allowed by law to monitor workers’ online activities. This is because in essence, the equipment or gadgets being used by employees at work are properties of the employer.

Can Transparency Make Monitoring a Fair Practice?

According to experts, employers should also be sensitive enough about how their people will feel about them being monitored. Although employee monitoring is legal, it is recommended that any form of monitoring be done with the knowledge or even consent of the party to be monitored. This will prevent any negative effects of monitoring on employee morale.

Ideally, employers should explain to their employees how, when, and why such monitoring will take place. Business owners should remember that if an employer doesn’t have enough trust in its workers, the latter will feel the same about their employers. The presence of distrust and suspicion in the workplace can cause severe damage to relationships and the performance of the workforce in general.

What Are the Best Practices When It Comes to Employee Monitoring?

As mentioned earlier, transparency in the workplace is essential. If there is a need for the employer to monitor its workers, then employees need to at least be informed about it. Employers should also be clear and specific as to how the monitoring will be done. This way, the workers will not be paranoid in thinking that someone is watching every move they make. At the end of the day, it should be explained to the employees that the purpose of monitoring is to improve productivity and to boost company security.

How To Spy On Cell Phones

The use of cell phone spy apps, such as Easy Spy, is becoming popular these days for employee monitoring. By spying on company-owned mobile phones, all cell phone activities of workers will be monitored by employers. Take note, however, that you cannot learn how to install spy software on cell phone remotely because physical access to the target phone is needed for the installation.