I actually just had to write a paper on the employer spyware type software. I found an interesting article that is very applicable to this discussion: Urbaczew

I actually just had to write a paper on the employer spyware type software. I found an interesting article that is very applicable to this discussion: Urbaczewski, A., & Jessup, L. M. (2002). Does electronic monitoring of employee internet usage work? Communications of the ACM , 80-83. To summarize: Theory X management that thinks that the employee is trying to screw the company will use tracking software to enforce policy and morale and job will be low. Theory Y management will use tracking tools as metrics to identify areas of improvement and provide the data to the employee for their betterment. Identifying trends in your own behavior can increase your productivity, which means that you'll take less time to complete your work. This has the potential to lower your stress and make you a happier person. Just a general feeling, but I think this appeals to the Theory Y crowd.