The Hawthorne Effect

Is the “Hawthorne Effect” ruining your remote work culture?

In the 1920s, researchers at the Hawthorne Works factory found that productivity spiked whenever workers were observed. The conclusion? People perform better when they feel noticed and valued.

When teams moved out of the office, many leaders panicked about losing visibility. The response? Digital monitoring tools, constant status pings, and tracking software.

But there is a massive difference between the positive attention of the original Hawthorne studies and the digital surveillance of today.

With the original effect, workers felt chosen, valued, and motivated by human attention.

In today’s world, workers feel distrusted, micromanaged, and anxious under software surveillance.

When “being watched” shifts from supportive leadership to invasive tracking, it creates a culture of mistrust, sneakiness, and resentment.

So what should we do this get the best of this effect and not the worst of it?

Measure outcomes, not activity. Shift the focus from hours logged to goals achieved.

Trade tracking for trust. Replace surveillance software with regular, supportive 1-on-1 check-ins.

Keep visibility human. Use video calls to celebrate wins and build connections, not to police attendance.

The lesson from 100 years ago still holds true: workers thrive when they feel valued. Let’s make sure our digital tools are used to support our people, not just to watch them!