Is Big Brother Watching You in the Workplace?
This is scary.
We all know about little cameras that may be watching you, we know that IT departments have the ability to see what we type, send via email, see what webpages we look at and can control our computers remotely, now they have hidden sensors.
Bank of America has used badges containing tiny sensors that records the movements of the wearer and the tone of their conversation. This was in their call center. The data showed that the workers belonging to close knit groups did better than those working independently. So, the bank started to have employees assigned to groups and have no independence. This increased productivity by 10%.
Many companies obtain data via sensors secretly inserted into furniture, badges, name tags. The data tells how often employees leave their desk, attend meetings. This data is used to make changes in the daily work life. These sensors measure emotion or actual behavior. Keep in mind that an employer can locate an employee by tracking their smartphone or corporate ID badge.
Sensors are employed by 50 large and medium size companies to study how their employees interact and communicate. Most of the time, sensors are embedded in the employee badge or security card. The sensors also tell the employer how an employee uses his office space.
It is not illegal for employers to track their employees and sensing technology has not violated any workplace rights, but give them time. You just know they will.