How managers fail to communicate the benefits of an employee monitoring system to their team

If you run a business that requires your employees to use a mobile device, providing company-owned equipment might be your chosen solution to reinforce cyber safety, productivity, and employee surveillance.

Mobile monitoring enforces information security across all platforms, and utilizing company devices is an easy way to ensure that all employees have the programs they need to succeed in their roles.

However, there are a few ways that managers can improve how they explain the benefits of network monitoring to their teams.

Managers Ineffectively Explain Tracking Systems

Mobile monitoring systems are used for more than simply tracking usage and location information. By focusing on the surveillance aspect of these systems, employees might feel like their privacy is being violated since all of their actions are potentially being viewed by the company.

For businesses, the use of a monitoring system is crucial to making sure that devices are only used for work-related activities. Not only does this safeguard the company’s investment in both the devices and the employees themselves, but it’s a key way to protect company information from cyber attacks and misuse.

Instead of highlighting features like text and browser monitoring, emphasize that the primary reason for a monitoring program is to increase security and privacy on behalf of the employee and the company.

Mobile Monitoring Can Increase Productivity

Employees use company-owned devices for one reason, and that is to complete their work.

Monitoring systems allow the employer to measure their activity and time spent on certain tasks, but this is also beneficial to the employees. This is especially true for monitoring programs that log call data, track app usage, and review browsing history. Employees can see where they spend the most time, which gives them an idea about where they can improve their work habits.

For salaried employees in particular, this can save them money in the long run by optimizing the time they spend on their devices. Inefficiently browsing, bouncing between apps, or spending too much time on certain calls can add up quickly for employees with a heavy workload.

Monitoring Systems Create a Flexible Work Environment

Working remotely is more popular than ever, and this is a major benefit for most employees. By gaining access to employee activities with monitoring software, employers can justify their investment. This gives workers the option to work from anywhere, as long as they can fulfill their job duties.

For employees who are hesitant about monitoring technology, this benefit can be their tipping point if they’re on the fence about using a company device. While they might believe that they are losing privacy and freedom by using a company-owned phone or computer, they can actually gain more corporate leeway and flexibility instead. Fundamentally, employees should understand that they have nothing to worry about if they are using their devices responsibly and with company interest in mind.

Employee monitoring systems can lead to a variety of positive outcomes, ranging from valuable manager feedback to protection from legal action. Communicating these benefits to your employees can make the difference between fostering an environment of professionalism and freedom or causing tension and anxiety because of a lack of trust for both parties.