Refers to the practice of employers who implement surveillance software tools for remote or hybrid workers, often unbeknownst to them. Where workers do not know these software tools have been implemented, this aspect makes this an issue of transparency, ethics, and often privacy law compliance, depending on the jurisdiction.

There are several alternative or related terms for this practice:

• Bossware – referring to software that allows employers to monitor workers’ activities, often secretly or without explicit consent (intrusive employee surveillance tools).
• Surveillance Capitalism – broader term that is relevant when the data collected from workers is monetized or analyzed to shape behavior.
• Digital Surveillance or Workplace Surveillance – general terms for the practice of monitoring employees through digital means.
• Productivity Monitoring Tools – often used by companies to frame the software in the context of productivity.
• Time Tracking Software – often overlaps with surveillance when it includes screen capturing, keystroke logging, or webcam monitoring.
• Workplace Panopticon – metaphor from philosophy (Bentham/Foucault), used in HR/ethics discussions about constant surveillance and its psychological effects.
• Algorithmic Management – refers to using automated systems (including monitoring tools) to manage and evaluate employees.
• Helicopter Management - According to Owl Labs’ 2024 State of Hybrid Work report, refers to a growing trend for company managers to evaluate workers’ performance, particularly in remote and hybrid settings using activity monitoring software tools.  The majority of workers (86%) in the 2024 survey believe it should be a legal requirement for employers to disclose if they use monitoring tools.