Morrisons is introducing a new tracking system to monitor how quickly its shop floor staff stack shelves, as the supermarket embarks on a major operational overhaul to improve efficiency and win back shoppers. The new performance monitoring app, which is being rolled out across hundreds of stores, allows managers to see real-time data on staff productivity - including how fast employees unload and restock items.
While the world holds its breath to see if the US tech industry can bring about human-level artificial intelligence - and therefore completely rewrite the social contract and economy - experts are warning current iterations of the tech are already remaking the workplace in insidious ways. This week, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), a group representing nearly 45 million workers across 40 European countries, published a comprehensive report about the disturbing impact of algorithms that increasingly control the workplace.
That sarcastic GIF you sent in Slack last Tuesday? Your IT department can pull it up, along with when you sent it, from which device, and your exact login history. While you're treating workplace apps like casual texting platforms, your employer is collecting data with the thoroughness of a social media algorithm. Those "productivity tools" you rely on-Slack, Google Workspace, Zoom-aren't just facilitating remote work. They're creating comprehensive digital profiles of every professional move you make.
