According to a survey done by the cybersecurity company, ExpressVPN, 85 percent of companies in the UK admit to monitoring their workers.

The stress of constant surveillance is growing with workers, as 50 percent of employees have reported feeling increased strain from being watched. Plus, 45 percent of the British responders have suspicions about their bosses observing them; unfortunately, the suspicion is not unfounded, as it has become a standard practice for many UK companies.

Many businesses justify monitoring their workers, including watching their emails, chat logs, and app usage as a way to boost productivity. In addition, 78 percent of businesses admitted to monitoring remote workers to track their productivity.

This extends beyond simply watching clock-in and clock-out times. The survey reported 27 percent of organizations performed real-time screen monitoring, while 36 percent tracked websites visited during work hours.

According to ExpressVPN, while it may improve productivity, it can cause a massive layer of distrust between the employer and employee. The loss of privacy is so important to the average British citizen that 51 percent of those surveyed would rather quit their job than be watched while they work.

“For many, the reality of being monitored aligns all too closely with their deepest concerns, creating a workplace environment that feels anything but private,” ExpressVPN said in a blog post.

It leaves employees feeling like they’re constantly being watched and can’t trust their boss.

The problem stems from an overall layer of distrust that comes from remote jobs, ExpresVPN reported — 56 percent of employers have stated that remote work leaves them feeling like they’re not in control of their operations, while 51 percent outright reported that they don’t trust their employee to work unless there is in-person supervision. This pushes those companies to monitor their workers, creating a negative feedback loop.

Employers also see things differently, as 70 percent of them claimed that real-time monitoring created more trust among the workforce and improved it. Of course, this runs contrary to the narrative told by the majority of the employees themselves.

Many Brits have called for regulations about what an employer can and cannot monitor. Strict guidelines could benefit both parties since there will be less overall stress and confusion caused by not knowing how much your job is watching you.