New report reveals 41% of Singaporeans feel they are constantly watched at work
Four in 10 employees in Singapore feel they are constantly being monitored at work, putting at risk employee well-being and productivity in workplaces, according to a new report.
Findings from ADP's People at Work 2025 Report revealed that employee monitoring in workplaces is doing more harm than good for the workforce.
In Singapore, 41% of employees feel constantly surveilled, the fifth-highest in the report, and higher than the regional average of 35% in the Asia-Pacific.
Employee monitoring backfires
The rise in employee monitoring in workplaces comes after the pandemic brought remote working to the mainstream, raising the demand for software that could track keystrokes, grab computer screens, and monitor mouse movements.
"But these efforts to ensure work is getting done instead might be reducing productivity and increasing employee stress," the ADP report warned.
Employees who felt they were being watched were nearly three times less likely to report a high level of productivity compared to those who did not feel watched during their work day, according to the report.
Employees who felt surveilled were also more likely to feel stressed.
"They were more than three times more likely to say they experience negative stress every day," the report read. "More stress tends to align with lower productivity and higher turnover."
Putting employees at ease
Employers can reduce employees' feelings of being watched by communicating their expectations openly and frequently, according to the report.
It found that employees who clearly understand what's expected of them at work are 3.7 times more likely to report being highly productive than those who don't.
"If productivity concerns arise, blanket monitoring policies might do more harm than good. Instead, employers could be well advised to address specific concerns directly with individual employees as needed," the report read.
"This more granular approach could go a long way toward creating an environment where people feel less stressed and more equipped to do their best work each day."
