26 March 2025
New insights from Kinly's Trusted Connections 2025 report indicate a growing trend among UK businesses to adopt employee tracking technology as a means of combating issues such as 'quiet vacationing' and 'quiet quitting.'
The study reveals that 81% of UK businesses find employee monitoring effective in mitigating unreported time off, a significantly higher figure compared to the European average of 61%. This demonstrates a proactive approach by UK companies in maintaining productivity and employee engagement.
The report highlights that 67% of UK businesses believe that monitoring can also help address 'quiet quitting', a phenomenon where employees become disengaged from their work. This sentiment illustrates a broader concern about workforce engagement in the wake of increasing remote work.
Conducted among 425 enterprise audio-visual professionals across the UK, Germany, the Nordics, and the Netherlands, the Kinly report indicates a notable boost in productivity linked to tracking technologies. Specifically, 69% of businesses reported increases in productivity among remote workers, while 66% observed similar improvements with in-office staff.
In light of the need for enhanced workplace efficiency, over a third of organizations are investing in data platforms that facilitate both remote working and in-office environments. The report shows that 76% of enterprises are currently collecting or planning to collect employee IP and location data, with 37% having already implemented such measures.
Despite the apparent benefits, concerns regarding the impact of tracking technologies on employee morale and workplace culture remain prevalent. While 65% of organizations have indicated that tracking has improved employee wellbeing, the long-term effects on morale are still uncertain. Approximately 61% report enhanced morale since the implementation of tracking tools, yet many emphasize that tracking alone may not be sufficient for cultivating a positive work environment.
The report also points to a shift in remote work strategies, with 19% of businesses prioritizing a return to office-based work by 2025. This evolution raises pertinent questions about whether tracking technologies can adequately address disengagement or if a more holistic approach to workplace culture is necessary.
"Tracking can provide valuable insights, but it's not a substitute for strong leadership or a healthy workplace culture. Businesses need to assess whether they are utilizing data to support their employees or merely to monitor them. The organizations that will thrive are those that integrate analytics into broader strategies that prioritize trust, engagement, and wellbeing, rather than relying solely on tracking to enhance performance,” said Katy Thorpe, Global People Director at Kinly. "As organizations continue investing in workplace analytics — adopting remote work data platforms and in-office analytics — the challenge lies in ensuring that tracking fosters engagement rather than eroding trust. Our findings suggest that while data and analytics are critical for improving efficiency, lasting productivity and employee satisfaction are best achieved by combining technology with a robust workplace culture."
