Person working on a laptop computer.
The role that technology plays in the workplace is rapidly changing, especially as companies begin to monitor employees more closely and adjust their policies surrounding the ability to work-from-home. A new study shared by Owl Labs found that over half of U.S. employees said that their organization now uses some form of employee tracking software, up from 46% who reported the addition or increased use of the same software in 2024.
Younger employees are more likely to be monitored closely, with 80% of Gen Z and 64% of millennials reporting that their employers use monitoring software. When it comes to tracking, the study found that employers generally want to know employee login/logout times (30%), the number of meetings in a day (16%), screen or mouse movement (15%) and even keyboard usage (15%).
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With this increased level of pressure, employees are being asked to do more, while at the same time losing previous flexibility such as, half-days on Fridays, flexible daily start and end times and having Fridays off completely.
Despite this, flexible working options, such as Summer Fridays, are not here to stay. According to the study, just 1 in 3 U.S. workers still get Summer Fridays and it’s mostly younger workers, including over half of Gen Z and nearly half of millennials who have had this option, compared to far fewer older workers.
Employees also want more perks and flexibility when it comes to caregiving support. More than half of employees surveyed said companies need to step up with better support and flexibility for caregiving – whether it’s young children or aging parents. The study found that 34% of U.S. employees are balancing child care or eldercare with work and 66% of caregivers worry that it is affecting their performance at work.
With return-to-office mandates on top of everything, much of the workforce is feeling the frustration. Nearly half of all U.S. workers say their employers have rolled up or ramped up in-office requirements this year, with Gen Z (82%) and hybrid workers (60%) feeling it the most.
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