Why do employers monitor employee activities?

It is apparent that employers are increasingly monitoring the activities of their employees. But why? Experts suggest that the increases are due in part to the following factors:

• New technologies. Newer, easier, cheaper and better surveillance and monitoring equipment is available. Cost decreases and increased efficiencies in security equipment are allowing more employers to cost-justify purchasing such equipment.
• Tighter competition. As market competition drives production standards higher, employers are monitoring their workers to make sure they are producing.
• Safety concerns. Increasingly, societal pressures are being manifested in the workplace, from incidents of violence by estranged spouses to increases in substance abuse. In response, employers are monitoring their workers in hopes of preventing accidents or violent episodes.