Company installs productivity tracking software that screenshots employees' computers every 10 minutes: ‘But they say can't afford raises anymore’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 12, 2026 1:00 PM EST

Do you ever feel like your boss is breathing down your neck, looking at everything you do, and ensuring you remain on top of work, every minute of every day?

Well, with this productivity tracking software, you don't have to wonder; you will know for sure that this is exactly what your boss is doing at any given moment!

We've all seen and met our fair share of overbearing, probably toxic bosses and CEOs. They don't care about their workers' well-being or the happiness in the company. All they want is for work to be done in the least amount of time, for the least amount of money. This main goal is what leads companies to try to control their employees as much as possible. They must ensure that no employee does anything non-work-related on the company's expense, and they will use any desperate measure to do that.

Just like the company in the story below…

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  • Man in White Long Sleeve Shirt Using Computer.
    via Yan Krukau

    Man in White Long Sleeve Shirt Using Computer.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My company installed productivity tracking software that screenshots our computers every 10 minutes but says they cant afford yearly raises anymore

    So this week our IT department rolled out some new "productivity monitoring tool" that literally takes random screenshots of whatever is on your screen throughout the day.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • They announced it in a super casual email like it was no big deal. Couple weeks ago we got an email from HR saying that due to "budgetary constraints" the annual merit increases are being suspended indefinitely.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • The timing is just perfect right? I've been at this place for 4 years and every year its the same story.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684

  • While we can handle having our boss pass by our desk every half an hour and take a peek at our screens to ensure we are still hard at work, a productivity tracker is a big no-no in our books. How toxic can a workplace really be to decide that this is the best course of action?

    Not only that, but this company gives no incentive for its employees to keep their jobs, since they have been refusing to give anyone a raise for the past 4 years.

    Why would anyone want to keep working at a place like that?

  • Oh we had a tough quarter, oh the markets uncertain, oh we need to be more lean.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Meanwhile our CEO just posted on linkedin about the record company's breaking revenue growth and I saw him pull up to the office last month in a new mercedes.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • So now I get to have big brother watching my screen while I make poverty wages.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Love that for me. And imagine they expect us to keep our cameras on during zoom meetings too even though half of us work from home.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Like what are you gonna do, make sure I'm actually sitting at my desk? I've got a few months worth of expenses saved up so I'm seriously considering just walking.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • This job used to be tolerable but between the surveillance state cosplay and the wage freeze I dont know how much longer I can pretend to care about this place.
    via Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • A Man Having a Phone Call while Working on His Computer.
    via Yan Krukau

    A Man Having a Phone Call while Working on His Computer.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • What would you have done if your boss told you tomorrow that they are installing software that takes a screenshot of your computer screen every 10 minutes? Would you have accepted this new way for the company to tell you they don't trust you, or would you have put your foot down and refused this act of disrespect?

    Keep scrolling to read what people had to say about this in the comments, and share your own thoughts down below.

  • FIRE_flying Make sure you have another job lined up first! And then walk. If you're not happy, don't try to fake it.
    via FIRE_flying
  • cheesesleaze Try to get another job first or keep heavily investing in savings before making the final jump, this market is rough and I would hate for this company's unethical decisions to affect your personal livelihood. Absolutely make sure this is brought up in your exit interview and review them on glassdoor/whatever else though
    via cheesesleaze
  • BisquickNinja In this case their productivity trackers are just looking for any reason to get rid of you. They had similar software when I worked for Boeing and the kid that was gambling at work (but whose father was an executive) got no repercussions. However, me who was listening to music on my phone was nearly fired. Never mind I took their program from 2 years behind schedule to 2 days behind schedule in 10 months. Search for a new job and then quit with no notice.
    via BisquickNinja
  • PCouture If its your personal computer you can deny it. These new tools arent about productivity. Your training an agent to secretly replace you by generation training data.
    via PCouture
  • EManSantaFe Take that LinkedIn post into HR and ask for a good reason for no raises. Like the wonderful new tracking software?
    via EManSantaFe
  • illumnat Hate this s . Am I getting the work done that I'm responsible for? Yes? Then just leave me the f alone!
    via illumnat
  • Disastrous-Comfort-9 Get the other job first. I deal with this exact scenario and its s
    via Disastrous-Comfort-9
  • a_Vertigo_Guy So now they're gonna have to pay somebody to look at all those screen caps?
    via a_Vertigo_Guy
  • Known_Experience_794 Believe me when I tell you this.. The IT department didn't want to do this in the first place. It's usually driven by the C-Suite and/or HR. Usually it's to make sure they are squeezing every minute out of the employees. And/or, it's for gathering long term evidence to fire anyone at any time.
    via Known_Experience_794
  • SomeSamples Go out on the web and find others who are using that same software and what they do to circumvent it. Definitely find a new job. But don't leave until you do or until they fire you.
    via SomeSamples

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boss workplace-stories employee hr manager job tales-from-the-workplace software ceo raise workplace company
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