Listen 🎧: "The Rise of Work Surveillance"

Yesterday, I listened to a really interesting episode by NYT podcast The Daily on Workplace Surveillance.

Since the pandemic, more and more companies are monitoring "productivity" via tracking systems that do everything from taking screenshots of your work, to taking periodic photos of you to ensure you're working, to even deducting idle time (time not spent online) from your paycheck.

Not only are these systems invasive, but they're not necessarily effective- not all work is done by clicking items on a computer. On the contrary, it can be argued that some of the most impactful work (coaching teams, building cross functional relationships, learning/getting up to speed, etc.) is done outside that medium.

The workplace seems to be becoming more and more hostile to the very people it's supposed to value and protect the most, its employees.

So, is it that people no longer want to work, or that they don;'t want to work like this?

What do you think?