What Are The Benefits and Drawbacks?
The Importance of Transparency and Trust
In the context of AI tracking tools, Elliott believes the relationship between manager and employee is changing, and might be at risk. Not only are these kinds of tools suggesting “we don’t trust you, so we need to monitor you,” according to Elliott, but it’s giving managers a scapegoat to avoid having difficult conversations with employees.
“Instead of saying your performance is not meeting expectations, your output’s lacking, instead they can just point to keystrokes or mouse clicks instead of having a real conversation,” he explains.
These kinds of conversations are what create company culture, by growing individual relationships between workers and their supervisors. Managers aren’t just there to ensure their employees are working. Employees want to feel seen and heard by management, especially if they’re going through a hard time.
Naficy makes it clear his technology is not meant to be punitive. He acknowledges that a big reason for declines in performance at work could very well link to personal troubles, and that productivity tools provide “a coaching opportunity for the manager.” Like a nudge, he suggests, for them to speak with an employee to see what’s going on.
Where both Naficy and Elliott agree is on the topic of transparency. Naficy calls his solution deliberately “employee-centric,” which is why all of the data Prodoscore provides goes to the employee, first and foremost.
“I think there is monitoring that’s legitimate and you have to be really clear about what’s being monitored, and then communicate that to employees because they’re going to find out.” – Dr. Kyle Elliott
For Elliott, what’s most important is being honest and open with employees. “You have to be really clear about what’s being monitored,” he says. “Is it time on your computer? Is it taking screenshots?”
In fact, Naficy argues these tools can increase the amount of transparency an employee receives on company decisions. He gives the example of 360 reviews becoming more objective, based on concrete productivity data derived from the tools you’re using day-to-day.
