The Silent Watcher: Should Employers Monitor Employees Online?

 

When Tola joined her new remote role, she felt she’d finally landed her dream job. A flexible schedule, supportive team, and the comfort of working from home; everything seemed perfect.

But weeks later, something strange began to unfold.

Her manager, Mr. Adams, casually mentioned during a meeting that he saw her “liking a competitor’s post” on LinkedIn. Another time, he asked if she was “considering other offers,” referring to a comment she’d made under an HR discussion online.

Her heart sank. Was he… monitoring her social media too?

That night, curiosity and discomfort got the better part of her. She discovered that the company not only tracked work activity on corporate devices but also quietly reviewed employees’ social media presence; all in the name of “brand image and loyalty.”

Tola felt torn. She valued professionalism, but was her personal online space really part of her job performance?

 

The Employer’s Lens

From Mr. Adams’ perspective, his intentions weren’t entirely malicious. He had seen cases where employees shared sensitive information or spoke negatively about their companies online. Monitoring LinkedIn activity, in his view, was a preventive measure a way to protect the organization’s image and ensure loyalty. Slowly, this “oversight” crossed into personal territory.

Employees started posting less, avoiding professional networking, and becoming wary of expressing opinions. What began as “protecting the company” was now silencing its people.

 

The Turning Point

One afternoon, Tola decided to raise her concern in a one-on-one. She explained how this monitoring; both online and on social media made her and others feel mistrusted. To her surprise, Mr. Adams listened.

After an internal discussion, the leadership team made some changes:

·       Clarity: They updated the policy to clearly define what online behaviour the company monitors and why.

·       Boundaries: Personal social media accounts, including LinkedIn, were off-limits unless posts breached confidentiality or professionalism.

·       Trust and Respect: Employees were encouraged to use LinkedIn to build their careers and networks freely, without fear.

Soon, the team’s confidence grew again. Engagement increased, collaboration improved, and Tola even started proudly sharing her company’s posts by choice, not pressure.

Many employees, like Tola in this story, have faced subtle forms of online surveillance from screen tracking to social media checks.

Have you ever experienced something similar? How did it make you feel? I would love to read your experience below.