Fit-bitting the dog

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the increasing use of data monitoring of employees by companies. As companies gather data on employees’ keystrokes and mouse clicks, as well as data on employees’ movements and interactions during the work day, they have an opportunity to strengthen the relationship of trust between employer and employee or weaken it. This viewpoint attempts to lay out some opportunities to have a positive outcome in this changing relationship. Design/methodology/approach The viewpoint looks at current practices in the monitoring of employees through secondary research into published sources to arrive at some hypotheses about how companies could create value for employees with the data they are gathering. Findings The viewpoint concludes that the dangers of poisoning the employer/employee relationship through intrusive monitoring and abuse of the data collected are very real. However, there is also an opportunity to empower employees with the very data being gathered on their behaviors and activities. Research limitations/implications The findings are based largely on anecdotal insights and the views of individual corporate leaders and proponents of monitoring software. Primary research will be required to assess the actual opinions of employees about the monitoring software being used by their employers. Practical implications Those companies that embrace the empowerment of employees through the sharing of data being gathered and practice transparency about its gathering will gain competitive advantage as a favored employer. Originality/value Although there have been a significant number of articles describing the expansion in the digital monitoring of employees, the author is not aware of any discussion of the potential of this data gathering to produce positive results for employees.