The UK is leading Europe in workplace monitoring, with 81% of British businesses saying employee tracking effectively discourages ‘quiet vacationing’ – when employees secretly take time off without requesting leave. That’s according to new data released by Kinly.
The adoption of worker tracking isn’t limited to the UK but reflects a growing workplace strategy across Europe. However, the UK’s adoption rate is significantly higher than the European average of 61%, suggesting that UK businesses are taking a more proactive approach than their European counterparts. But while tracking is improving efficiency, its impact on workplace morale and trust remains unclear.
Kinly’s data reveals that British businesses are increasingly investing in tracking and analytics to address disengagement. The new Trusted Connections 2025 research report, which surveyed 425 enterprise AV professionals across the UK, Germany, Nordics and the Netherlands, found that two-thirds (67%) of UK businesses believe tracking also helps prevent ‘quiet quitting,’ where employees disengage and only do the bare minimum.
The rise of workplace tracking
As tracking technology becomes more widespread, its impact on productivity is becoming increasingly clear. Since implementing employee monitoring technology, many businesses have reported notable productivity gains, with more than two-thirds (69%) stating that remote worker productivity has improved, while 66% have seen similar benefits for in-office employees.
With tracking delivering measurable efficiency improvements, investment in workplace analytics continues to rise. This year, more than a third (34%) of organisations are investing in remote working data platforms and analytics, while a further 35% are focusing on in-office data platforms to better understand workplace efficiency.
Beyond productivity tracking, many enterprises are now expanding their approach, with more than three-quarters (76%) either currently collecting or planning to collect employee IP [intellectual property] and location data to track where people are working from. Nearly two-fifths (37%) have already adopted this practice, highlighting a broader shift toward data-driven workforce management.
Tracking alone may not be enough
However, despite the clear productivity gains, the research highlights ongoing concerns about the unintended consequences of workplace monitoring. While more than half (65%) of organisations say tracking has improved employee wellbeing, a significant proportion remain uncertain about its long-term effects
This uncertainty extends to employee morale. While 61% of businesses say morale has improved since implementing tracking, concerns persist over whether monitoring alone is the right approach to fostering a positive workplace culture
Adding to this complexity, some businesses are reconsidering their approach to remote work. With a fifth (19%) of businesses prioritising a return to the office in 2025, many are debating whether tracking alone is enough to tackle disengagement or if a wider cultural shift is needed to create a more engaged and motivated workforce
Katy Thorpe, Global People Director at Kinly, said: “Tracking can provide valuable insights, but it’s not a substitute for strong leadership or a healthy workplace culture. Businesses need to ask themselves whether they are using data to support their employees, or simply to monitor them. The companies that succeed will be those that integrate analytics into a broader strategy – one that prioritises trust, engagement and wellbeing – rather than relying on tracking alone to boost performance.”
