UK survey: 1 in 2 workers stressed by surveillance as 85% of employers admit to monitoring

What would you do if you knew someone was watching you work? Would you stay glued to your screen, take fewer breaks, or even work longer hours just to prove your dedication? For many employees across the UK, this has become their daily reality.

ExpressVPN’s latest survey reveals just how pervasive workplace surveillance has become in the UK, with 85% of employers admitting to monitoring their staff’s online activity. But while some bosses see this as a way to ensure productivity, nearly 50% of workers are feeling the strain—reporting heightened stress, reduced trust, and the unsettling feeling of being constantly watched.

Much like our previous study, which highlighted how 78% of employers monitored remote workers, this new survey digs deeper into the impact of surveillance across both remote and in-person work environments. It’s a reminder that while technology can help streamline work, it also comes with its share of trust and privacy challenges. 

Workplace surveillance on the rise: How employers are watching

Workplace surveillance has come a long way from simple clock-ins and casual check-ins by managers. As digital tools reshaped work, monitoring methods grew more sophisticated—especially with the shift to remote and hybrid models. Today, employers track emails, apps, keystrokes, and even locations. For many employees, it’s a constant reminder that their every move could be under watch, altering how they work and interact.

Nearly half of employees suspect they’re being watched

The feeling of being watched at work isn’t just a nagging suspicion for many employees—it’s a fact. 45% percent of Brits suspect their employer may be quietly tracking their work hours, productivity, or even where they’re working from. And they have reason to be wary: 85% of companies admit to using online monitoring tools. These tools aren’t limited to keeping an eye on clock-in times. Employers track active work hours (54%), websites visited (36%) and even engage in real-time screen monitoring (27%).

The reach of this type of surveillance can often extend to personal areas, like chat logs (28%) or inbound and outbound emails (36%). While employers justify these measures as necessary for productivity and oversight, employees are left feeling exposed and scrutinized. For many, the reality of being monitored aligns all too closely with their deepest concerns, creating a workplace environment that feels anything but private.

Employers track websites, emails, and even keystrokes

Employers today have an extensive range of tools at their disposal, giving them insight into nearly every aspect of their employees’ work activities. For example, 36% of companies track inbound and outbound emails, while 28% monitor chats and messaging logs. For some, surveillance goes even deeper, with methods like keystroke logging (15%) and location tracking (21%) using GPS tools.

Remote work leaves employers feeling out of control

For many employers, monitoring is driven by a deeper desire to regain a sense of control, especially in remote and hybrid work settings:

• 72% say they feel more at ease with in-person work because it reduces the perceived need for surveillance. 
• Managing hybrid models brings its own challenges, with 61% admitting that inconsistent supervision makes it difficult to maintain oversight. 
• 57% express discomfort with remote work simply because they can’t physically observe their employees.

This discomfort leads to a broader sense of mistrust. 56% of employers say that remote work leaves them lacking control over their operations. More bluntly, 51% openly confess that they don’t trust their employees to work without direct, in-person supervision. 

“51% of employers don’t trust their employees to work without direct in-person supervision.”

Employers see monitoring as a path to productivity

Most employers justify worker surveillance as a way to maintain productivity. 92% believe that in-office measures, including badging systems and biometric scanning, help keep employees on track. 91% hold similar views about online monitoring, considering it an effective way to track digital interactions and performance.

With remote and hybrid work reshaping traditional oversight, many employers lean heavily on these tools to fill the gap. However, while employers frame these measures as essential for productivity, employees frequently perceive them as intrusive, fueling tension and eroding trust.

Half of employees would quit over employer surveillance

This leads us to the ethical divide. Workplace surveillance is changing more than how people work. It draws a sharp line between what employers see as necessary and what employees find invasive. 42% of Brits believe it’s unethical for employers to monitor their online communication, including emails, chats, and video calls. For some, this crosses a line so deeply that 51% would rather quit than endure constant surveillance.

Legally, employers in the UK can monitor work-related communication if it’s for legitimate business purposes—but that doesn’t mean employees are fully aware of it. 38% don’t even know this level of monitoring is legitimate. The lack of clarity around what’s being tracked and why feeds distrust, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and resentment.

The situation is compounded by a lack of choice. 83% of employers don’t offer an opt-out option for their surveillance practices. For many workers, this feels like a violation of their autonomy, with no room to push back or set boundaries. Employers may frame these measures as necessary for productivity and oversight, but for employees, it often feels like being trapped under a constant, watchful eye.

How work surveillance impacts employee mental health 

With monitoring tools so deeply embedded in the workplace, the psychological toll on employees is impossible to ignore. 46% of UK employees reported experiencing stress or anxiety at the thought of their boss surveilling their online activities and communication. 

“For nearly half of the workforce, knowing they might be watched changes how they think and act during their workday.”

Many employees worry that every online action—even innocent browsing of social media or personal errands—could be under the microscope. 45% admit concern that their employer is aware of non-work-related activities, adding additional stress to their daily lives.

This feeling of being perpetually observed is most intense for younger employees. 47% of Brits report feeling stressed by their employer’s monitoring practices, with younger workers (ages 18-24) feeling it more than their older colleagues. Yet, despite the clear impact on mental health, 32% believe their employer hasn’t considered the psychological burden extensive surveillance can impose.

For their part, employers often see things differently. 70% claim monitoring boosts trust, morale, and productivity within their teams. But this narrative clashes with the lived experiences of many employees, who feel overwhelmed, pressured, and dehumanized by constant oversight.

27% of employees take fewer breaks due to constant surveillance

How has your employer’s surveillance of work activities affected your work behavior and feelings?

For many employees, workplace surveillance has led to significant changes in how they behave on the job. While 27% report taking fewer breaks throughout the day to avoid seeming idle, 23% feel pressured to work longer hours. The weight of constant monitoring leaves 32% of employees wondering if their actions are being watched at all times, driving them to put in more effort to be “visible.” But this visibility doesn’t always equate to genuine productivity—24% of employees admit they feel more pressure to be actively online, even if it means engaging in less meaningful work.

Tricks to beat the system: 18% keep apps open just to appear busy

What methods have you used to appear active during work hours?

Employees have responded to constant surveillance with creative—if sometimes counterproductive—coping mechanisms. 18% of Brits admit to keeping unnecessary applications or websites open to appear busy, while 11% use mouse jigglers to simulate activity. The pressure to stay visible has also led 15% to schedule emails for specific times to give the impression of constant engagement. Even physical presence isn’t immune: 14% engage in “coffee badging,” briefly coming to the office just to be seen.

This gaming of the system hasn’t escaped the notice of employers. 83% express concerns about techniques like mouse jigglers and simulated activity software, acknowledging the gap between genuine productivity and the appearance of it.

The fallout of workplace surveillance

The behavioral adjustments employees make are also indicators of deeper distrust and strained workplace relationships. 35% of employees feel a lack of trust from their employer, while 14% report feeling dehumanized by the extent of surveillance they experience. The pressure doesn’t end at showing visible activity; 26% feel compelled to rush through tasks to maintain the appearance of productivity, and 21% feel the need to match their colleagues’ work pace and output.

Employers tighten their grip

But instead of addressing employee concerns, workarounds often lead employers to double down on their surveillance. 38% of employers have used recorded emails and messages to influence performance reviews, while 29% have leveraged this data to discipline or fire employees. Some employers even monitor communication for signs of union activity (28%) or scrutinize private chats and messages via Skype or Slack (54%). The extent of monitoring doesn’t end there. 76% have resorted to—or been tempted to use—video surveillance footage to observe employee behavior in real time.

Employers are also investigating digital trails. 63% have scanned employee emails and chat logs looking for mentions of themselves, while 62% have reviewed browsing histories. This level of oversight doesn’t come without consequences. 30% of employees have been issued warnings, while others have seen their careers impacted in more tangible ways—18% have been denied raises or promotions, 17% have faced pay cuts, and 16% have even been suspended based on data collected through these surveillance methods.

79% of Brits demand regulation on workplace surveillance

As workplace surveillance becomes increasingly pervasive, employees are raising their voices for clearer boundaries and greater transparency. The lack of oversight has left many feeling vulnerable and uncertain about how far monitoring can reach into their professional and personal lives. It’s no wonder that 79% of Brits believe stronger government regulation is necessary to control workplace surveillance technology.

For employees, regulation is about reclaiming a sense of agency in a monitored environment. They want to know how their data is being used, what is considered acceptable monitoring, and where lines should be drawn. The call for regulation reflects a deep-seated desire for accountability, fairness, and respect in a workplace where privacy can often feel like a luxury.

Employers, too, could benefit from clearer guidelines. While many turn to surveillance as a means to boost productivity or prevent misconduct, a well-defined regulatory framework could alleviate tensions and build trust, making it easier to strike a balance between oversight and employee well-being.

As workplace surveillance grows and regulations remain uncertain, where do you stand? Should monitoring be tightly controlled, or does it have a place in boosting productivity? Tell us in the comments below.