Michael owns an online sports goods store. Like many other businesses around the world, he had to go remote with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. After a while, customers began complaining that their orders took too long to process and deliver. The most impatient ones even cancelled their purchases and went to other stores. Managers explained these delays by a large number of orders - with gyms and sports grounds closed, many people were buying equipment to exercise at home.
The results of the first week of monitoring remote employees were disappointing. The statistics showed 6,5 hours of active time at best out of the required 8 a day. The productivity level of some managers was also quite low - only about 60-70%. For example, CleverControl logged that one manager often played a videogame during work hours, and another binged the latest shows on Netflix. Moreover, user activity reports revealed an employee who did not start working until 11 am, although he was supposed to start at 9. Considering these results, no wonder why orders were processed so slowly.
Michael discussed the results of monitoring with his employees during a weekly Zoom meeting. Michael explained that monitoring was not a means of catching them red-handed but a way to help them be concentrated on their work tasks. Most workers admitted that it was indeed hard to stay on track at home but promised to be more focused.
Michael is going to continue monitoring his staff even when they return to the office.