Have you ever had the eerie feeling that someone is watching you while you’re at work?
In today’s digital world, employers are increasingly using digital surveillance tools to monitor their workers. While many employers say digital surveillance has benefits such as increased employee productivity, most employees say it feels creepy to be monitored.
The question is, does this constant monitoring actually work? Will it improve productivity and safety, or will it kill morale and cause other problems?
In the run-up to Halloween, today’s WatchBlog post answers these questions and more as we take a look at a new report on digital surveillance tools.
Camera, microphone, tracking software—Oh my God! Why do employers prefer “bosswear”?
A variety of digital surveillance tools, also known as “bossware”, are used in all types of workplaces. These include warehousing, retail, trucking, healthcare, and banking, just to name a few.
Digital surveillance tools include everything from cameras, microphones, and computer monitoring software to advanced tracking software (such as GPS), app-based surveillance, and even wearable devices that track worker health data. Masu.
Why do employers prefer digital surveillance? The main purpose of digital monitoring is to monitor employee productivity, performance, and efficiency. This allows employers to identify specific areas for improvement and provide targeted coaching, training and other support. Some employers have begun using monitoring tools after increasing workplace flexibility for their employees, such as remote or hybrid work arrangements. Employers that allow telework have expressed concern that workers are slacking off when working from home. Digital surveillance tools allow employers to check whether employees are working where they claim to be (not at the beach, for example).
Some employers said they are also using digital surveillance tools to improve safety and health in the workplace. For example, in oil production, an employer uses wearable devices to track workers’ sweat rate and electrolyte loss to prevent on-the-job heat stress.
Digital surveillance also increases security, ensuring that only authorized personnel enter sensitive areas. Innovations such as facial recognition technology allow employers to respond quickly to potential threats and create a safer working environment. For example, one union official said GPS-enabled panic buttons are used by hotel housekeepers to “alert hotel security if they feel unsafe or threatened; “This is not unusual for housekeepers who have faced sexual harassment and assault.”
Despite these potential benefits, employers weren’t necessarily sure how effective their tools would be. For example, persistent monitoring has led some employees to abuse the system and perform pointless tasks such as wiggling a mouse to achieve arbitrary milestones. And continuous monitoring can have negative consequences for workers that may outweigh some of the benefits.
Why do workers hate surveillance tools when they are constantly being monitored?
Digital surveillance tools are putting employees on edge and having other negative effects that can impact mental health, morale, productivity, and more.
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Deteriorating mental health: Constant surveillance can amplify workers’ stress and anxiety levels and make them feel like they’re under a microscope. Mere monitoring can cause workers to feel less confident and enthusiastic about their jobs. Employees increasingly report feeling unable to voice concerns or share suggestions for fear of the impact of their digital footprint. A work environment where workers feel they are being watched can foster a culture of mistrust.
For example, call center employees said that monitoring tools help them constantly strive to improve sales. They said, “The pressure to sell and having my manager monitor me in so many ways creates a lot of stress.”
- Prevents union formation: Constant surveillance can also erode workers’ sense of autonomy and privacy. As a result, some workers feel that it impedes workplace solidarity and union efforts. When workers fear that their every move will be tracked, organizing for better conditions feels unsafe, undermines unity and weakens workplace morale.
- Potential for discrimination: Labor advocates and researchers worry that digital surveillance can lead to bias and discrimination. Some worry that AI-driven performance metrics unfairly target certain groups. For example, someone who takes longer to complete a task due to a disability or other factors. This can further exacerbate existing disability, racial, or gender inequalities in the workplace.
Read our new report for more creepy details.
- GAO’s fact-based, bipartisan information helps Congress and federal agencies improve government. WatchBlog allows us to contextualize GAO’s efforts a little more for the public. See more posts at GAO.gov/blog.
https://www.gao.gov/blog/why-do-i-feel-somebodys-watching-me-workplace-surveillance-can-impact-more-just-productivity