On a company computer, assume yes. Employers can usually see which applications and websites you use, when you are active and, if the feature is on, screenshots of your screen. They generally cannot see a personal device unless you installed company software on it. In New York, Connecticut and Delaware, employers must tell you in writing that they monitor.
Key takeaways
- What matters is who owns the device, not where you are sitting.
- Private or incognito browsing does not hide activity from software on the computer.
- The quickest way to know is to read the monitoring policy and ask.
- In the EU and UK you have a legal right to be told and to see your data.
What can employers see on a work computer?
| Activity | Can monitoring software see it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applications and window titles | Yes | The most common thing recorded |
| Websites visited | Yes | Some tools record only the domain, others the full address |
| Your screen | If screenshots or screen recording are switched on | Some tools blur captures |
| Idle time | Yes | Measured from keyboard and mouse activity |
| What you type | Only with keystroke logging | Found mainly in security products |
| Work email and work chat | Usually | The accounts belong to the company |
| Files on company storage | Yes | |
| Webcam | Only if the feature exists and is on | It should be disclosed |
| Private or incognito browsing | Yes | Incognito hides history on the device from other users, not from monitoring software or the network |
Can my employer see my screen when I work from home?
Location makes no difference. A company laptop on your kitchen table is monitored the same way as one in the office.
A personal computer is different. Your employer can see it only through something you have installed or connected to: monitoring software, a remote desktop session into work systems, or a company VPN, which shows the traffic that passes through it.
Can my employer see my personal phone or computer?
Not normally. The exceptions are devices enrolled in company device management, company apps that request permissions, and traffic on the company Wi-Fi network. If you have installed none of these, your personal device is outside your employer's view.
How can I tell if I am being monitored?
Read the policy
Look in your contract, the handbook and anything you signed when you started. In New York, Connecticut and Delaware, employers must give written notice.
Look at the computer
Monitoring agents often show an icon near the clock and appear in the list of installed programs. Some products can run hidden, so an empty list proves nothing.
Ask
A question to IT or HR is reasonable and usually gets a direct answer. In the EU and UK, employers must make workers aware of monitoring, and you can request a copy of the data held about you.
What are my rights?
In the United States
Employers have wide latitude on equipment they own. The main limits: written notice in three states, restrictions on recording audio, protection for union and other concerted activity, and no access to your personal password-protected accounts. See Is employee monitoring legal?
In the EU and UK
Monitoring must be lawful, transparent and proportionate. You have a right to be informed, a right to access your data and, in many cases, a right to object. See Employee monitoring under GDPR.
What should I avoid doing on a work computer?
Keep banking, medical portals, personal email and private messages on your own device. A screenshot captures whatever is on screen at that moment, and even a well-run employer would rather not hold that information.
What does transparent monitoring look like?
Good monitoring software does not leave you guessing. In BirdsEye, for example, the desktop agent has a screen that lists the rules your company set: the hours tracking runs, how often screenshots are taken, whether they are blurred and when you count as idle. You can see your own recorded day and your own screenshots, pause tracking for a break, and the agent stops capturing outside working hours. If your employer uses BirdsEye, open the agent to see what applies to you.
Employers reading this can find the full picture on the security and privacy page.
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer see my browsing history in incognito mode?
Yes, if monitoring software is installed on the computer or if traffic passes through the company network. Incognito mode only stops the browser from saving history on the device.
Can my employer watch me through my webcam?
Only if the monitoring software has a webcam feature and it is switched on. That should be disclosed in your employer's policy, and in the EU and UK it needs a strong justification.
Can my employer see what I do on a work laptop after hours?
It depends on the software and its settings. Some tools record only during scheduled working hours. Others record whenever the computer is on. Check the policy, and treat a work laptop as monitored unless you know otherwise.
Is it legal for my employer to monitor me without telling me?
In most US states there is no general duty to tell employees, although New York, Connecticut and Delaware require written notice. In the EU and UK, employers must inform workers except in very narrow circumstances.