Company installs productivity tracking software that screenshots employees computers every 10 minutes, claims they can't afford yearly raises anymore: 'I've been at this place for 4 years and every year its the same story.'

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Feb 12, 2026 8:00 PM EST

It's rough that she can't call their bluff. 

It can be difficult to tell if the higher-ups at your company are being 100% honest with you. You're not in the room when they discuss the precise figures for operational costs, revenue, and profit. You only know what they tell you, and what they tell the public, but sometimes those narratives are at odds with each other. Sometimes they'll tell the world that they're a world-class company that is doing better than ever, but they'll tell you that there's absolutely no way that they can afford to pay you any more, because the success is allegedly not enough to sustain a pay increase. Maybe it's true that they can't afford to give raises and keep the lights on, but there are always signs that this isn't the case.

If a company keeps hiring a bunch of new employees, they probably have some money to spare. If they're getting rid of a lot of employees, they probably don't. Employees aren't stupid: they can tell when their bosses are lying through their teeth about the company not having enough money to give them a raise. It would be preferable for employers to simply say, "We don't think you deserve a raise this year," but companies obviously won't do that because it would hurt people's feelings. Professionalism is all about lying, but in order for it to be effective, you have to tell a believable lie. 

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  • Woman in green shirt sitting in front of computer
    via ThisisEngineering

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

  • The employers in this story are fools if they think their employees don't notice their blatant lies. They claim that they can't afford to give them raises, yet the CEO is pulling up to the office in a brand-new luxury car! The employees deserve so much better than this.

  • 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 u/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 u/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 u/Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Oh we had a tough quarter, oh the markets uncertain, oh we need to be more lean.
    via u/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 u/Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Gray Mercedes Benz car
    via Liah Martens

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

  • So now I get to have big brother watching my screen while l make poverty wages.
    via u/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 u/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 u/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 u/Quick_Breakfast_7684
  • Head of safeguard department and her subordinates looking at security camera while standing in front of large screen in office
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • 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 u/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 u/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 u/BisquickNinja
  • reall33tpower What they're doing is ridiculous. If you even open another tab for a minute because you're curious about something and a screenshot hits, what, now you're "not productive"? Freezing wages while rolling out surveillance is a terrible look. That said, don't walk without something lined up, this market is rough, so keep working, start sending your resume out now, and maybe set aside 15 minutes a day to try that developer's outreach method, it's not a guaranteed fix but it can help you
    via u/reall33tpower
  • 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 u/PCouture
  • EManSantaFe Take that LinkedIn post into HR and ask for a good reason for no raises. Like the wonderful new tracking software?
    via u/EManSantaFe
  • 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 u/Known_Experience_794
  • dukerenegade I got fired today for being upset about security cameras in my office. We are so busy with so much overtime building stuff for a couple of the world's richest people. They don't tell us thank you or give a bonus or even a lunch. But hey let's put cameras in your office so we can make sure you're working. Also everyone should sit with their back to the door. Come on
    via u/dukerenegade
  • LeeAllure Who TF has time to review all that nonsense?!
    via u/LeeAllure

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tracking employee job productivity software ceo pay raise computer workplace company
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