Employee monitoring software is a type of workplace surveillance in which the activities of employees are observed & tracked. The type of data gathered can include employees’ productivity, computer usage, location, attendance, and email or text communications on company devices. When used carefully and transparently in a way that respects employee privacy, employee monitoring software can help optimize inefficient workflows and increase employee engagement. It also plays a crucial role in the prevention of product, data, and information theft. 

Benefits of employee tracking software include: 

1. Increased Productivity — Employee monitoring software keeps track of how much time is spent working, providing visibility into tasks and activities. Being continuously monitored keeps employees on task and discourages them from wasting time on distractions. 
2. Enhanced Security — Employee monitoring software makes sure employees don’t visit shady websites, reply to suspicious emails, perform malicious actions on company devices, or violate security policies. It also monitors business files, account details, and client data, lowering  the risk of security breaches and insider threats. 
3. Effective Management — It’s easier to manage your team when you have better insights into their work habits. You’ll know the strengths and weaknesses of each employee, helping to delegate tasks more efficiently. ‍
4. Cost Savings — By increasing employee efficiency and decreasing wasted time, you’ll save on operational costs. This means less unnecessary overtime, less fraudulent time reporting, and less resource wastage. Over time, these savings contribute to better financial health for your company.

Employee tracking software often includes, but is not limited to, the following features.

• Activity Tracking — Monitors the time spent on various tasks or applications.
• Keystroke Logging — Records every key pressed on the employee's device.
• Screen Recording — Takes screenshots or videos of employees' screens.
• Internet Usage Monitoring — Tracks websites visited and time spent on them.
• Email Monitoring — Monitors sent/received emails for specific keywords or attachments.
• Application Usage Monitoring — Tracks the usage and time spent on specific applications.
• Employee Location Tracking — Tracks GPS locations for field employees.
• Chat/IM Monitoring — Monitors messages sent on chat or instant messaging platforms.
• Time Tracking — Logs hours worked, clock-in/out times, and breaks.
• File Transfer Monitoring — Tracks file uploads/downloads or sharing across devices.
• Productivity Analysis — Provides insights into productivity based on activity patterns.
• Report Generation — Generates detailed reports on employee performance and behavior.
• Alerts & Notifications — Sends alerts for specific activities or breaches of policy.
• Absence Tracking — Tracks attendance and time off requests.‍
• Mobile Device Monitoring — Monitors activities on company-provided mobile devices.

Employee monitoring software often has a subscription pricing scheme, where businesses pay per employee to be monitored.

A typical cost is between $5 and $20 per month per user, with annual or monthly billing.