Remote work isn't new. Its road to popularity has been paved by workers seeking the flexibility, job satisfaction, and productivity it provides. An analysis by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics found that in the last five years, remote jobs grew 44%, and in February 2020, 4.7 million U.S. workers operated remotely.

Despite the popularity remote work has among employees, some employers aren't sold on the idea, worried that employees will slack off without supervision. 

But the novel coronavirus pushed wary employers to accept the arrangement. For many companies, allowing employees to work from home was no longer just a nice perk; it was the only way to continue operations. According to a report from Willis Towers Watson, the amount of remote workers surged to 53%, after clocking in at 7% last year.

With remote employment now a necessity, employer concerns about working from home may feel even more urgent. After all, without being in the office, how can managers ensure employees are being productive? If managers can't stroll by employees' cubicles, how do they know they're working and not refreshing their Twitter feeds? Or that they are keeping company information secure? Or that they aren't misusing company devices?

A common solution: Employee monitoring

Companies may address employee productivity and security concerns by using a variety of monitoring technologies, said Adam Forman, labor and employment attorney at Epstein Becker Green. These include video, audio, screenshots and other technologies to measure productivity, he said.

[For the rest of this story, please visit HR Dive]