Yesterday a story broke on the web revealing details of a new piece of mobile technology that allows employers to spy on their staff.
It is basically an intelligent motion sensor that can work out what you are doing by the type of movements you are making. The company that invented the device argue that it is designed to improve employee productivity and enable senior level better manage their staff.
Have you seen those adverts for a mobile phone tracking device so that you can track your partner? And now our bosses are watching us too. Surely all the advancements in technology over the past years were intended to help us not hinder us or remove our privacy? Is this not technology gone wrong?
Looking back to the future
In my previous job there were cameras all around the office and, while I can appreciate that if you worked in retail or hospitality where there may often be a fair amount of cash within easy reach this may be an unfortunate but necessary precaution and deterrent. Yet it seems a little unnecessary in an office environment.
I went to a café recently and rather than have a till you could just put in the pot as much money as you felt your food or drink had been worth. To be honest, I wasn’t that surprised that people were reaching into their pockets and leaving a fairly generous sum.
Big brother Britain
Is this not CCTV culture gone too far. No one likes the thought of being watched and when it comes to the matter of crime although surveillance cameras have been used to prosecute criminals, research has shown that it does little to prevent the crimes in the first place.
What good will this new employee tracking device actually bring to a company? Not only is it unnecessary but it also perpetuates a feeling of mistrust and uneasiness. It means people start to resent this lack of trust from their employers when they have done nothing to deserve it and does not promote a culture where people want to work.
For me personally there are a few main qualities that should exist in a company’s culture:
In my opinion, this kind of trusting atmosphere fosters positivity and productivity.
Technology in the workplace
Would it put you off applying for a job if the company was renowned for spying on staff and employee tracking devices were company policy? What if you went for an interview for an IT job and found yourself being examined, not just by the interviewer but also who knows however many others may be watching.
Needless to say human rights lawyers have plenty to say on the matter…
Loading ...
Loading ...
Posted on March 12, 2010 by Graham
My question would be, what are you doing in your employers workplace that you don’t want them to know about? You are there to perform your employment requirements. I have seen far to many people doing online banking, twitter, facebook, etc. during working hours.
Flame me if you want, but if you’re doing nothing wrong you have nothing to fear, of course if you’re just doing nothing then expect to be fired.