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Monitoring productivity in the workplace is crucial for any business to ensure that goals and deadlines are met on time.
However, monitoring employee productivity can be delicate to balance.
Monitoring productivity too closely can create a culture of mistrust & negatively impact employee morale.
To deal with this challenge, the key is finding the right approach to monitoring productivity that balances employees’ and employers’ interests.
This blog will discuss:
So, without any further ado, let’s dive in.
What Is Employee Productivity Monitoring?
Monitoring employee productivity refers to tracking and measuring employees’ efficiency and effectiveness in completing their:
- Assigned Tasks
- Meeting Job-Related Goals
- Completing Objectives
This can be done through various methods, such as:
- Tracking Time Spent On Different Tasks
- Measuring Output
- Evaluating Performance Metrics
The purpose of monitoring employee productivity is to:
- Increase Employee Efficiency
- Reduce Costs
- Improve The Quality Of Work
Now let’s take a look at some.
Employee Productivity Monitoring: How It Has Evolved
Over the years, employers have adapted and evolved their methods for tracking employee performance and productivity.
Here are the different stages of monitoring employee performance
1) Early Stage:
In the early days, employee productivity was measured through manual methods such as:
- Time Cards
- Daily Logs
- Paper-Based Performance Evaluations
These methods were time-consuming and error-prone and often relied on self-reporting.
2) Biometric Monitoring:
In the last decade, biometric monitoring has become more popular, with companies using tools such as:
- Keystroke Monitoring
- Facial Recognition
- GPS Tracking
To monitor employee productivity.
This allows for a more objective measurement of employee performance and is less dependent on self-reporting.
3) Automation:
With the advent of artificial intelligence, manual methods of employee productivity monitoring are replaced by automated systems such as:
- Employee Productivity Monitoring Software
- Workforce Management Software
- Project Management Tools
These tools include:
Allowing managers to monitor employee productivity with minimal effort.
These automation systems have made it easier for companies to monitor employee productivity and provide more accurate and reliable data.
Different Methods Of Measuring & Calculating Productivity Of Employees
| Method | Description |
| Output per employee | Measures the amount of output produced by an employee on a per-person basis. |
| Output per hour | Measures the amount of output produced by an employee per hour of work |
| Multi-factor productivity | Takes into account multiple factors such as:
To measure overall productivity. |
| Cycle Time | Measures the time it takes for a specific task or process to be completed from start to finish. |
| Quality metrics | Measures the quality of the output produced by an employee.. |
| Customer satisfaction | Measures the level of satisfaction of customers who have been assisted by employees. |
| Goal setting and tracking | Setting specific productivity goals for employees and tracking their progress towards achieving those goals. |
Challenges With Solutions Faced By Employers To Monitor Employees’ Productivity
Challenge 1-
One main challenge employers face in monitoring employee productivity is maintaining employee trust.
Employees may feel that they are being micromanaged or that their privacy is being invaded if their every move is being monitored, which can lead to a decrease in trust and loyalty.
Solution 1-
In such a situation, employee productivity tracking software can solve this challenge by balancing monitoring productivity and respecting employee privacy.
This software is designed to track employee productivity from different metrics, such as:
- Total Activity/per day
- Total Worked Time
- Total Projects Worked
These metrics allow employers to keep track of employee productivity from a single dashboard without invading their employees’ privacy.
Challenge 2-
Another challenge employers face is ensuring that employees work efficiently and effectively without wasting time on non-work-related activities or distractions.
Solution 2-
Employers should consider using software to monitor employee activities:
- Websites Visited
- Apps Used
During work hours.
This can help them identify any non-work-related activities that employees may be engaging in during work hours.
Challenge 3: Another challenge that employers face is how to collect and analyze the data from employee productivity tracking software.
Solution 3: Here, daily and real-time reports can be used to ensure accurate data collection, and to run a quick analysis. Employers can access various reports, such as:
- Time & Activity Reports
- Weekly Reports
- App and URL Reports
- Timesheets Reports
- Attendance Reports
Challenge 4- Despite using productivity monitoring software to track employee productivity silently, some software keeps on sending notifications to the employee system
such as:
- Screenshot Captured
- User Activated
- Task Completed
These notifications keep distracting the employee and create a sense of insecurity, leading to a lack of trust and commitment.
Solution 4- A productivity monitoring system that comes with the Stealth Mode can help address this challenge.
With the Stealth Mode enabled, the productivity monitoring software can operate silently in the background without sending any notifications or alerts to employees.
This ensures that employees can work without any distractions and without feeling like they are being constantly watched.
Additionally, employers can communicate the use of such software to their employees and explain how it will improve productivity and efficiency, which can help build trust and foster a positive work environment.
As we are now familiar with the challenges and solutions related to employee productivity monitoring, the main question arises which tool or medium can be used for employee productivity monitoring?
Next Step
In conclusion, monitoring employee productivity can be a delicate balance between tracking employee performance and respecting their privacy and autonomy.
Using the right approach to monitor employee productivity without destroying employee trust is essential.
You can start by opting for Workstatus, the employee productivity monitoring software that provides a comprehensive solution to all employee productivity needs.
Sign up now for your free trial and start monitoring your employees’ productivity in a non-invasive way.
That’s all for today.
Thanks for reading!
FAQs
How can productivity monitoring software help improve employee productivity? Productivity monitoring software can provide real-time feedback to employees on their productivity and help them identify areas where they can improve. It can also help employers identify areas where they can optimize processes to improve productivity and efficiency.
Is it legal to monitor employee productivity?
Yes, it is legal to monitor employee productivity in most countries as long as it is done in compliance with local labor laws and the employees are informed about the monitoring process.
