Digital surveillance may increase worker anxiety, injuries

"Digital surveillance can affect workers' physical and mental health in both positive and negative ways, according to a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. For instance, monitoring tools or apps can alert employees about potential health problems or increase their sense of safety. However, these technologies can also increase anxiety or the risk of injury by pushing workers to move faster to meet productivity goals."

"Employer surveillance of workers has become more widespread as the number of people working remotely has increased and the types of surveillance technologies available have expanded, GAO researchers wrote in the report. Sometimes referred to as bossware,' digital surveillance tools can provide employers with information to help improve their operations, the researchers noted. Some worker advocates, however, have questioned whether employers can use these tools in ways that negatively affect workers."

"Researchers noted both the positive and negative effects of the tools, which often depend on employers' practices, particularly how transparent they are about what information they collect. Importantly, the researchers wrote, the design or incorrect use of certain digital surveillance tools can limit employers' ability to accurately assess performance. For instance, some tools may use flawed productivity benchmarks, not account for the full range of worker tasks and responsibilities, or be used by employers for unintended purposes."

Digital surveillance tools can provide health alerts and enhance worker safety while also increasing anxiety and encouraging faster work that raises injury risk. The growth of remote work and more varied surveillance technologies has expanded employer monitoring. Positive or negative outcomes often hinge on employer practices, especially transparency about data collection. Design flaws and incorrect use can produce inaccurate performance assessments by relying on flawed benchmarks or failing to capture full job responsibilities. Worker advocates raise concerns about unintended uses that may harm workers even as tools promise operational improvements.

Read at www.hrdive.com