A lot of companies are turning to employee monitoring tools to make sure workers aren't slacking off

The COVID-19 lockdown meant a surge in remote work, and the trend toward remote and hybrid workplaces has persisted long after the pandemic receded. That has changed the nature of workplace management as well. Bosses can't check for butts in seats or look over their employees' shoulders in the office to make sure they're working instead of having a LAN party. So they've turned to software tools to fill the gap.

So-called “bossware” lets managers keep a close eye on employees' activity, tracking everything from knowledge workers’ website visits to the gait and facial expressions of those involved in more physical activities.

Employers have long been able to access electronic communications you conduct on their platforms, whether those are emails or direct messages. However, many employers don’t snoop on your inbox unless there’s an investigation, and some platforms make that more difficult than others. Slack ...