Connectivity and Surveillance: The Role of Communication Visibility in the Era of Digitalization and Remote Work

In the era of digitalization and remote work, employee surveillance has surged, and many workers feel tethered to their work through various technological devices. This study explores how communication visibility mediates the relationship between remote work and computer-mediated communication (CMC) frequency, supervisors’ surveillance practices, and employees’ connectivity to work. Analyzing data from 539 employees and supervisors at a multinational company, we found that remote work alone did not lead to increased supervisors’ surveillance ability. However, CMC frequency was positively associated with surveillance, both directly and indirectly, through enhanced communication visibility. Additionally, workplace flexibility and CMC frequency contributed to constant connectivity, regardless of communication visibility. These results contribute to theoretical understandings of visibility management and surveillance by highlighting how communication visibility provides opportunities for surveillance in flexible work environments. Practically, these findings emphasize the need to develop policies that balance the benefits of connectivity and flexibility with increased opportunities for surveillance.