A new survey has revealed that one in three UK companies are using “bossware” to monitor employees. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shared the findings, showing that workplace surveillance is becoming common and controversial.
How Companies Monitor Employees
The survey found that many employers check emails, track web browsing, and even record screens. Private companies are more likely to use these tools than public organisations.
In fact, one in seven managers said their organisation reviews or records screen activity. This suggests that monitoring is growing fast across the UK.
Sharp Rise in Workplace Surveillance
Just last year, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reported that fewer than one in five people believed they were being monitored. Now, the number has jumped to around a third.
Even more worrying, many managers admitted they did not know what monitoring systems their companies used. This means the real figure could be even higher.
Concerns About Trust and Privacy
Employers say monitoring helps prevent insider threats and protects sensitive data. Some also claim it improves productivity.
But staff are uneasy. One insurance manager described new AI-powered monitoring at their company as “unsettling,” asking if firms no longer trust employees or want to replace them with AI.
Some software providers advertise tools that track “idle time,” capture keystrokes, and take screenshots. These features are designed to measure performance but raise serious privacy issues.
ICO Issues a Warning
The ICO has warned that excessive monitoring can harm employee privacy, especially when people work from home. It insists employers must be open about how and why they monitor.
Last year, the ICO stopped Serco from using facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to monitor staff at leisure centres.
A Debate That Won’t End Soon
Petra Wilton, CMI’s policy director, said: “If it is being used, it is incredibly important employers are open, otherwise that’s going to cause significant problems in terms of data privacy and protection.”
As more companies adopt monitoring, the debate about trust, productivity, and privacy in the workplace is set to grow even louder.
