It’s a common dilemma these days – on the one hand, monitoring is essential for security and productivity reasons, but on the other, it can also infringe on employees’ rights. Don’t worry, though! In this post, we’ll dive into what employee privacy rights are and share a few helpful suggestions to ensure that workplace monitoring takes place transparently and without any negative effects on employees.
However, are you aware of your employees’ privacy rights? It is crucial to understand that as an employer, you must safeguard your employees’ privacy rights and treat their personal data with confidentiality. After all, it matters because respecting their privacy is not just ethical but also critical for your business’s success. By doing so, you can balance both aspects without violating your employees’ rights.
Moreover, it’s a must to keep in mind that there are various laws and regulations at the state and federal levels that govern employee privacy rights. Understanding these laws can help you avoid any legal consequences and ensure that you are treating your employees fairly.
Respecting employees’ privacy is not just a legal obligation, but it is also a fundamental aspect of building a positive work culture. When employees feel that their personal information is safe and their privacy is respected, they tend to be more productive and engaged in their work. Additionally, the trust that is built in such an environment leads to better employee retention and a more cohesive team. So, let’s get started by learning how to monitor remote workers.
Considerations to the pertaining legal obligations
Simply monitoring the employees is not enough. As an employer, you must consider all the essential legalities in place that might possibly hamper your business workflow. As such, the laws of different countries and regions differ. Hence, it is relevant to comply with the regulations to avoid legal consequences and damage to the company’s stake.
To better understand, specific businesses in Canada must follow PIPEDA, while large companies in Europe must comply with GDPR. regardless of the company’s location, employee privacy and data safety are critical. Employers need to be cautious when recording audio or video conversations involving sensitive information such as bank or health details, as these recordings may be legally protected.
To promote better workplace transparency, employers must seek remote employees’ consent or permission to record screen authority beforehand. This will not only help them comply legally but also boost employees’ trust, leading to a more productive work environment.
Create an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
As we shift towards remote work, it is evident that companies adopt employee monitoring policies to ensure productivity and security. But, prior to actually employing such new approaches, it is crucial to have an acceptable use policy (AUP) in the plan. If you are unclear what an AUP is, it is an agreement that employees sign before working for any company, which gives the green light to the employer to monitor certain aspects of their work behaviors.
Despite that, you must respect your employees’ privacy rights and avoid violating privacy laws. Since it is technically a sensitive matter, you can consider deploying only one remote access tool for all of your employees rather than having to use multiple platforms and portals. This will instead accommodate maximum productivity and keep workflow streamlined without compromising privacy.
Choose a user-friendly, non-invasive employee monitoring tool
Using easy-to-use remote monitoring software can help you resolve the issue of monitoring remote workers without invading their personal space and time. Some of the best tools in the market also have an easy learning curve and deployment. So, no more how to monitor remote workers in the discussion!
But wait. here’s a fun fact: a recent study shows that almost every private employee is open to their employers monitoring them as long as it serves their interests. So, why not introduce this performance-tracking software as a productivity tool that can aid your employees in achieving their goals and improving their work quality?
As much as we trust our employees, tracking work progress is essential. But it’s equally important to respect their privacy, which is why non-invasive features are a must. These include tools like project management tools, employee productivity tools, and time-tracking tools, which can aid you in monitoring workers without being intrusive.
Provide adequate information to your remote workers about implementing monitoring software
If you are managing a remote team, you must proactively think about how to monitor remote workers without giving the impression of spying. So, what you can do is inform them about using an employee remote monitoring software to avoid any objections and misunderstandings.
To do so, you can set up virtual meetings with the remote workers and explain the software’s benefits. This will help form a transparent environment where everyone knows what’s going on, and employees can work efficiently without any unnecessary worries. Additionally, you should ask for their approval or address any concerns that they have. Remember, a little bit of consideration and transparency goes a long way.
Prohibit unnecessary monitoring at odd hours and events
Even if you wonder whether your remote employees are working efficiently or wasting time on other unnecessary activities during work hours, it is definitely not right nor ethical to keep a hawk’s eye on them. Instead, we suggest you use automated services that keep tabs on their internet activities. Such add-on features can take screenshots of computer screens in real time and even log keystrokes, making it easier to detect any fishy or unproductive movements.
But remember to use these tools responsibly, as a breach of privacy laws is just a line away. And if you are not sure about something that remote workers are engaging in, don’t jump to conclusions. Talk to them. Therefore, only use the technology to your benefit and remain hands-off when not necessary.
Ensure total confidentiality of remote employee’s personal data by not sharing them
Are more and more people are working remotely these days, tracking their personal progress is getting tricky. But worry not! You can simply integrate a remote employee tracking tool that will allow you to keep tabs on workers’ productivity along with accurate insights into the workflow. But what about the employees’ privacy?
That is where you should strike with caution. To avoid any confusion or legal trouble down the line, avoid sharing any personal data from the employee’s files, such as bank account details or social security numbers. This simple precaution can help you abide by the company-wide policies and keep your conscience clear.
Limit monitoring only to work-related events/activities
Employers need to respect employees’ privacy while also ensuring that work-related activities are only being monitored to maintain productivity and security. By limiting monitoring to only work-based events like work emails, work-based websites, software usage, etc., you can strike a balance between respecting workers’ privacy and ensuring that they are doing the job effectively.
And while you are wondering how to monitor remote workers, remember to keep your eyes and hands off personal emails, personal online activities, and social media movements. If you do, that would be an invasion of privacy and land you in legal issues. Complying with the privacy laws can help foster work culture and build employee trust.
Overall, as a responsible and law-abiding employer, deploy policies and work standards to maintain a balance between workers’ productivity and respecting their privacy rights. While the task is challenging, it is not impossible. By following the guidelines above, you can generate effective monitoring plans that the workers will appreciate.
