A company that recently implemented a system to track employee movements, including bathroom and break room usage, has faced unexpected financial consequences. The system, initially presented as a security measure, quickly became a source of tension among staff. Employees soon realized that management was scrutinizing how long they spent away from their desks, including time taken for lunch or restroom breaks.
According to a Reddit post shared by an employee, the surveillance extended to monitoring even minor breaks. A coworker with a medical condition faced complaints from HR for spending extended time in the break room. The post revealed that while the policy aimed to increase productivity, it created a climate of fear, with staff reluctant to communicate workplace issues.
Communication Breakdown Leads to Major Loss
The tracking system, the employee noted, caused staff to avoid reporting problems or suggesting solutions. Previously, employees would alert supervisors to potential issues promptly. After the monitoring was implemented, employees feared being penalized for leaving their desks and stopped reporting problems altogether.
This silence had costly repercussions. A machinery malfunction went unreported because employees did not want to be seen away from their stations. By the time management became aware of the issue, the repair and lost production costs had totalled Rs $50k (approximately Rs 44 lakh). The employee explained that the workforce was following management’s directive literally—staying at their desks—without realizing it had undermined overall productivity.
Management’s Attempt to Address the Problem
In response to the breakdown in communication, the company introduced mandatory collaboration sessions to encourage employees to speak up. However, staff reportedly remained silent, continuing to comply with the monitored behavior. The post describes the situation as a striking example of how over-monitoring can backfire, reducing efficiency rather than enhancing it.
Commenters on the post linked the incident to the concept of “perverse incentives,” where policies designed to improve performance produce the opposite effect. Similar examples include historical cases like snake bounties in colonial India, feral pig issues in the U.S., and the introduction of cane toads in Australia, all demonstrating unintended consequences when strict targets replace practical judgment. Reddit users highlighted that the phenomenon is well-documented across industries and countries, emphasizing the need for balanced management strategies.
According to a Reddit post shared by an employee, the surveillance extended to monitoring even minor breaks. A coworker with a medical condition faced complaints from HR for spending extended time in the break room. The post revealed that while the policy aimed to increase productivity, it created a climate of fear, with staff reluctant to communicate workplace issues.
Communication Breakdown Leads to Major Loss
The tracking system, the employee noted, caused staff to avoid reporting problems or suggesting solutions. Previously, employees would alert supervisors to potential issues promptly. After the monitoring was implemented, employees feared being penalized for leaving their desks and stopped reporting problems altogether.
This silence had costly repercussions. A machinery malfunction went unreported because employees did not want to be seen away from their stations. By the time management became aware of the issue, the repair and lost production costs had totalled Rs $50k (approximately Rs 44 lakh). The employee explained that the workforce was following management’s directive literally—staying at their desks—without realizing it had undermined overall productivity.
Management’s Attempt to Address the Problem
In response to the breakdown in communication, the company introduced mandatory collaboration sessions to encourage employees to speak up. However, staff reportedly remained silent, continuing to comply with the monitored behavior. The post describes the situation as a striking example of how over-monitoring can backfire, reducing efficiency rather than enhancing it.
Commenters on the post linked the incident to the concept of “perverse incentives,” where policies designed to improve performance produce the opposite effect. Similar examples include historical cases like snake bounties in colonial India, feral pig issues in the U.S., and the introduction of cane toads in Australia, all demonstrating unintended consequences when strict targets replace practical judgment. Reddit users highlighted that the phenomenon is well-documented across industries and countries, emphasizing the need for balanced management strategies.
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