Some Companies Using Software to Monitor Their Employees
We all know that our every action on the web is being monitored by corporations in an effort to provide us with the “best” kinds of advertisements tailored to our personal behaviors. We also all know that government agencies (cough…the National Security Agency) have the ability to tap into the vast amounts of Internet data to predict people’s behaviors—all in the name of national security.
For the average person, these emerging stories on data and privacy might feel a bit beyond the scope of what one experiences in a typical day. By that I mean, a person might not be directly impacted by Internet surveillance in his everyday life, unless of course, something happens and the person becomes suspected of doing something wrong.
So, for the purposes of this story, let’s bring the subject of surveillance to the common Joe in an environment where he functions and breathes everyday: his workplace.
The Wall Street Journal posted a profile of several small businesses that have decided to use tracking software to ensure that their employees are not slacking off and are doing their work safely on the chance that their occupation requires careful attention to detail.
As the business paper describes, “Thanks to mobile devices and inexpensive monitoring software, managers can now know where workers are, eavesdrop on their phone calls, tell if a truck driver is wearing his seat belt and intervene if he is tailgating.”
From the Wall Street Journal:
Trucking company Schneider National Inc. uses software from Telogis Inc. to see whether drivers are braking too hard or heading into an area with high risk of theft. The company uses that data not only to discipline drivers, but also to reward those with top safety records, said Don Osterberg, Schneider's senior vice president of safety. He concedes, that "there are some who don't like the eye in the sky looking over their shoulder."
While many office workers may be accustomed to some form of Internet tracking in the form of keystroke monitoring or not being allowed to visit certain social media sites, the Wall Street Journal highlights how the technology is now available for employers in the world of blue-collar labor.
But does all this employee monitoring really work? For that, check out this piece from Bloomberg Businessweek, which leads with the phrase, “No one likes the idea of a workplace in which managers keep a constant eye on employees.”
The article describes a study from researchers at the Washington University, Brigham Young University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology that highlights the benefits of becoming Big Brother to ensure your business is efficient. The study found that “Under monitoring, eateries using NCR’s surveillance software experienced a 22 percent drop in theft, and revenue increased by 7 percent.”
Of course, it’s not always all that peachy.
From Bloomberg Buisnessweek:
Other studies have shown that workplace surveillance weighs on the “unknowns.” One survey, for instance, found that “employees who had their performance electronically monitored perceived their working conditions as more stressful and reported higher levels of job boredom, psychological tension, anxiety, depression, anger, health complaints, and fatigue.” Whether this would matter to employers who enjoy higher profits as a result of surveillance is unclear.
So there you have it. If you find it reasonable to have some of your workers up in arms over the idea that they are being watched by a vengeful higher-power, maybe using software monitoring tools is right up your alley.
One thing is for certain, there is going to be no lack of companies providing this technology.
