Managers and supervisors feel strongly that Slack or Microsoft Teams improves performance, employees not so much. Image: bangoland/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA survey has found substantial differences between managers and employees on productivity management software, while also raising a warning that its use can backfire on management.
While the survey of 1,000 each of managers and employees by the 15Five software company focused on the private sector, it involves an issue important in the federal sector, as well: managing performance as more employees continue to work offsite, and more often, than before the pandemic.
“The absence of on-site observation in remote and hybrid workplaces has management experiencing “productivity paranoia,” despite numerous reports noting that productivity actually increases with a flexible work schedule. Some organizations are turning to surveillance tools, which employees experience as a lack of trust,” it said.
It said that while 68 percent of managers think productivity tracking software—such as collection of data from apps such as Slack or Microsoft Teams—improves performance, 72 percent of employees think it either diminishes performance or has no effect.
In terms of the work environment, “more than ⅓ of managers responded that monitoring had no impact, ¼ said that it led to employees looking for a new job, and 20% acted out or sabotaged the company,” it said.
It added, “One of the startling data points is that nearly three-quarters (72%) of managers said they use tracking software to monitor employees; however, only 35% of employees report their organization is using it. In other words, employees don’t know they are being spied upon.”
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