It has lately come to my attention that the trend of installing cameras to monitor employers is growing. This phenomenon is the result of advancement of technology, making CCTVs prevalent everywhere. some people claim that implementing employee monitoring can increase staffs’ productivity. Some are against it as it is eliminating privacy of employees. I am going to reveal the both sides of this coin.

To commense with, monitoring employees in workplace can increase productivity. When employees are watched closely, their willingness of dealing with private problems would be immensely declined as their actions would be recorded right away by the cameras. They would prioritise tasks and avoid procrastination to ensure that work is completed efficiently, so they would be able to address their own issues after working.

Additionally, implementing surveillance of employees can increase their job satisfaction. For some large conglomerates, employers and supervisors are unable to patrol around the workplace. It may send a message to employees: their working process is not being noticed. However, cameras can operate 24/7, implying that their efforts can be supervised by seniors. When their efforts are seen by the department heads, employees would be motivated as their hard work is approved. Appreciation and approval for work done are vital to develop a sense of fulfilment.

Nevertheless, every thing has two sides. It would be unfair to discuss the pros only. Apart for adventages, drawbacks are going to be informed.

Monitoring employees can wreck staffs’ job accuracy. Their working circumstances are monitored, meaning that they have no gap and space to take a little cap even though they are fatigued. This is because they want to leave an impression of perseverance. They are likely to force themselves not to doze off. Their brains would not function well in the sense that they do not take a rest when they are extremely tired. It would be impossible for them to make flawless tasks since they are dazed.

Last but not least, another disadvantage of watching employees by cameras or computer software is employees’ frame of mind would be ruined. For employees, being watched by seniors all the time can be uncomfortable. Their privacy is being violated. Their actions or conditions would be discussed by employers and they have to bear with the insecurity. The invasion of privacy in distressing, making employees lose passion about the work. Worse still, they would no longer stay at the company since they do not want to be spied on.

There is a necessity to weigh the pros and can before imposing as policy. Monitoring employers by installing cameras in workplace or putting computer softwares in the computers are beneficial to employees’ productivity but also detrimental to their mental health. Maybe there are other alternatives to enhancing the working quality

By  6A Lau Yu Ning