You might have heard of ransomware and malware but “Bossware” might be a new term for you. Don’t panic. Bossware isn’t a new type of cybercrime. It is actually a tool that your business can use to monitor employee productivity.

That is how some people would define it. Other people have coined Bossware as ‘spyware’ (a tool that infringes on employee privacy). 

Bossware is a controversial subject. Some organizations love it and some hate it. We will explore what Bossware is, how it works and whether your business should deploy it. 

Where did Bossware come from?

Before the pandemic, most companies operated with a strict work-from-the-office policy. It was easy to keep an eye on employees and make sure that they were doing their jobs. 

All of that changed in 2020 when COVID-19 forced organizations around the world to embrace remote working. Most companies continue to operate remotely or are taking a hybrid approach which means that sometimes employees are in the office and sometimes they work from home. 

In this new paradigm, organizations are being forced to trust their employees like never before. It’s not as easy to see how attentive their employees are to their work when they’re not at the office. They need to put good faith in their people to work hard and not slack. 

However, not every company has this culture of trust. Some want to ensure that they can still have the same visibility over their employees as they did in the office. This is where Bossware comes in. It’s a digital surveillance software that monitors and tracks employees. 

Over the last year, Express VPN found that 78% of organizations used monitoring software to track their employees’ performance and online activity. More than half of firms started using this surveillance software in the last six months.

What is Bossware?

Bossware is a software-as-a-service tool that is downloaded onto an end user’s device. The app can track and monitor everything the user does: what applications they interact with, the websites they visit, where they are, who they speak to and the data they share. 

Some Bossware solutions can even use key logger functionality. This records keystrokes which enables employers to see exactly what employees are typing (including passwords). 

The invasive nature of Bossware is what makes it so controversial. While it’s great for improving visibility, it can also cause friction with your employees who may feel that the solution violates their privacy. 

Here is an overview of the pros and cons of Bossware. 

Pros of Bossware

  • Bossware gives you deeper visibility into your employees’ work from home routines so that you can check that they are being productive, efficient and meeting corporate expectations.
  • Bossware can help with time management and allow managers to distribute tasks in a fair manner depending on which employees appear busier or less busy than others.
  • Bossware can be used as a tool for invoicing due to its tracking functionality. It can also provide insight on the amount of hours that an employee needs to complete a certain type of project and what amount you should quote for future estimates.
  • Bossware can boost employee productivity because they are aware of the monitoring. 

Cons of Bossware 

  • Employees may feel like their privacy is violated under Bossware.
  • Bossware can be a security threat if it is poorly managed.
  • Bossware may put too much pressure on employees to constantly perform and increase the possibility of burnout.
  • If your employees work from their own devices, they may refuse to install Boss.
  • Employees may feel like they are not being trusted and that affects company culture. It can result in a higher turnover rate when employees seek out another company who does trust them.

Should my business invest in Bossware?

There is no simple yes or no answer to this question. Using the software isn’t necessarily a mistake. If you struggle with employee productivity in the remote working world, the software could be for you.

We advise that you think about the consequences of Bossware before investing. If your employees are likely to disagree with the software, it may not be worth it. Creating a positive employee experience is essential to solid retention rates. 

If you plan to head back to the office full-time soon, Bossware won’t be needed at that time. You would not want to cause a ripple in company culture for a temporary situation. This software is best for primarily remote businesses. 

What to do if you plan to monitor your employees

If you want to use Bossware, you must do so with ethics, security and privacy in mind. You must let your employees know about the software before deploying it. 

It would be best to be explicit about what you will monitor, how the software works and the information you will collect. You should also configure the software to only be active during work hours. 

Boost work from home productivity levels 

Keeping employee motivation high can be difficult when you’re not in the office together. Solutions exist to make remote working more seamless, connected and inclusive. 

Sound Computers can help your Connecticut business improve collaboration, communication and productivity in the hybrid world. We tailor our strategy to what will work best for your business.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call 860-577-8060 or reach us online.

February 1, 2022
Sound Computers Admin