Title: Managers turn to surveillance software, always-on webcams to ensure employees are (really) working from home URL Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/work-from-home-surveillance/ Published Time: 2020-04-30T14:25:10.968Z Markdown Content: [Accessibility statement](https://www.washingtonpost.com/accessibility/)[Skip to main content](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/30/work-from-home-surveillance/#main-content) [Democracy Dies in Darkness](https://www.washingtonpost.com/) [Save and subscribe](https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?oscode=RPWH&s_l=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&p=s_v&s_ct=article&itid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&tid=nav_subscribe_logged_out&acqEntType=mktg_onsite_article&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Ftechnology%2F2020%2F04%2F30%2Fwork-from-home-surveillance%2F&arcId=BWBBZZHT3FFNZMZFIZKGEH52TA)[Sign in](https://www.washingtonpost.com/subscribe/signin/?next_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Ftechnology%2F2020%2F04%2F30%2Fwork-from-home-surveillance%2F&nid=top_pb_signin&arcId=BWBBZZHT3FFNZMZFIZKGEH52TA&account_location=ONSITE_HEADER_ARTICLE&itid=nav_sign_in) Democracy Dies in Darkness [Coronavirus](https://www.washingtonpost.com/coronavirus/?itid=sn_coronavirus_title)[U.S. cases and deaths by state](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/?itid=sn_coronavirus_1/)[World map](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/mapping-spread-new-coronavirus/?itid=sn_coronavirus_2/)[New CDC guidance](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/11/cdc-coronavirus-recommendations/?itid=sn_coronavirus_3/)[When am I still contagious?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/01/covid-contagious-period-isolation/?itid=sn_coronavirus_4/)[The people who never get covid](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/08/study-never-get-covid/?itid=sn_coronavirus_5/) [Coronavirus](https://www.washingtonpost.com/coronavirus/?itid=sn_coronavirus_title)[U.S. cases and deaths by state](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/?itid=sn_coronavirus_1/)[World map](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/mapping-spread-new-coronavirus/?itid=sn_coronavirus_2/)[New CDC guidance](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/11/cdc-coronavirus-recommendations/?itid=sn_coronavirus_3/)[When am I still contagious?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/01/covid-contagious-period-isolation/?itid=sn_coronavirus_4/)[The people who never get covid](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/08/study-never-get-covid/?itid=sn_coronavirus_5/) # Managers turn to surveillance software, always-on webcams to ensure employees are (really) working from home Always-on webcams, virtual “water coolers,” constant monitoring: Is the tech industry’s new dream for remote work actually a nightmare? April 30, 2020 More than**6 years ago** 444 [Make us preferred on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=washingtonpost.com) ![Image 5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2ULVVOVD6VGFZGRUPQIW33RFE4.jpg&w=440%20400w) (Claire Merchlinsky for The Washington Post) ![Image 6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/washpost/8a44606d-0dc6-4dc0-bb9d-007c9f770a61.png&h=196&w=196) By [Drew Harwell](https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/drew-harwell/) When the coronavirus shuttered the Kansas headquarters of the [High Plains Journal](https://www.hpj.com/), an agricultural trade paper for farmers and ranchers across the Midwest, digital marketing director James Luce decided to replicate the office experience entirely online. 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