Many bosses think that more monitoring means better work, but research shows the opposite. The real story raises questions about trust and workplace privacy.
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- Employee productivity can improve when workers are not being closely observed.
- The Transparency Paradox shows that constant manager oversight can reduce efficiency.
- Harvard Business School research by Ethan Bernstein highlights hidden productivity in factories.
- Workers perform better when they have privacy and space to solve problems.
- Close monitoring can make employees put on a “performance show” rather than work effectively.
- Covert observation in a Chinese electronics plant revealed small efficiency tricks shared among staff.
- Workplace trust and respect are more effective than extreme surveillance tools.
- Excessive tracking of clicks, emails, or screens can harm staff engagement and focus.
- Managers should focus on results and outputs, not constant observation of activity.
- Clear rules and fair oversight create a productive and motivated team environment.
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