Uncovering the Web of Secrets Surrounding Employee Monitoring Software: A Content Analysis of Information Provided by Vendors

Employee monitoring software enables employers to oversee their workforce, even when working remotely. While it has the potential to enhance efficiency, productivity, and profitability within an organization, there are also significant risks associated with its adoption, such as violations of privacy, security intrusions, and lack of transparency. Although recent research thoroughly discusses the role of employers in the ethical use of monitoring, the role of monitoring software vendors has yet to be explored. Therefore, this research is aimed at exploring vendors’ current involvement in mitigating the risks of employee monitoring software. To achieve this, a content analysis was conducted on 15 websites selling employee monitoring software to examine how vendors address these risks. Given the lack of relevant literature and the possible reluctance of vendors to discuss the risks in surveys or interviews, content analysis enables a systematic review of the available software and the portrayal of employee monitoring on their websites. The findings show that risk-mitigating features are uncommon in the solutions offered by these companies. Furthermore, vendors tend to misrepresent and under-represent the risks of monitoring tools on their webpages compared to the benefits. With insights from this study, policymakers and advocates can develop new measures to promote the ethical use of employee monitoring. These measures could include establishing a knowledge center to provide general, evidence-based information about risks and benefits as an objective third party.