A growing number of British companies are turning to so-called “bossware” to keep tabs on their employees, with a third of organisations now using technology to monitor staff emails, browsing and even screen activity, according to new research. Just two years ago, a study by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) suggested fewer than one in five workers believed their activity was being monitored. Bossware systems typically allow employers to track everything from idle time and log-in activity to the use of social media or AI tools. The CMI found a large minority of managers believe digital snooping undermines trust with staff and risks intruding on personal privacy. But there’s a longer-term impact if people feel this is Big Brother-like and they are being watched.”