Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Zety.com.
Workplace surveillance is on the rise, with many companies adopting strict productivity tracking to monitor employees.
But how do workers feel about this constant scrutiny? Zety’s latest Workplace Monitoring Report explores their views on extreme oversight — including policies similar to Elon Musk’s controversial ‘pulse check’ emails.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. workers found widespread opposition to strict reporting, many citing these policies as detrimental to their job satisfaction and mental health.
Employee Reactions to Musk’s ‘Pulse Check’ Policy
Recent discussions on workplace oversight have been fueled by Musk’s mandate requiring federal employees to submit a list of five work accomplishments each week or face termination. Employees overwhelmingly reject this level of scrutiny:
- 42% strongly disagree with the policy.
- 20% somewhat disagree.
- 20% somewhat agree.
- 18% strongly agree.
If their employer adopted a similar policy:
- 30% would actively look for another job.
- 30% would tolerate it but dislike it.
- 25% would be fine with it and stay.
- 9% would quit immediately.
The pressure of extreme accountability and workplace surveillance has led many employees to reconsider their positions: 1 in 9 employees have quit their job due to such practices, and 1 in 6 have seriously considered it.
What this means: Mandating frequent productivity reports may backfire, pushing employees to seek workplaces with greater autonomy.
How Employers Track Their Workers
