Monitor Responsibly: How Employers Are Using Workplace Surveillance Devices

This article talks about how organizations are incorporating technology to their workforce in order to track them. The devices range from injected microchips to wearable devices, even sensors at a desk that senses body heat so that time away from a desk is measured. In a 2018 survey, most employees are not on board with employers tracking them (Burjek, August 31, 2018). The article says that federal laws do not have much regulation against it and other laws vary from state to state. It goes on to say that the issue is some tracking may jeopardize privacy to the employee. As technology improves, the way employers can used this in the workplace is endless.

Article Analysis At Micronesia Renewable Energy, I was a part of the implementation of this tech to the workforce. We used GPS in the vehicles, face recognition timeclocks, and cameras throughout the work areas. I can say that I witnessed the pushback by the employees first hand and the trust between the employees and management/ownership was questioned. As the Operations Manager at the time I heard negative feedback from every department, and a sense of security form the owners. In my opinion the key to implementing this type of technology is to have an overall buy-in, as well as the necessity otherwise it is counterproductive. Tracking is not a one size fits all, what works in one organization may not work for another.

Article Rating: 94/100

Author Credibility: 25/30- Andie Burjek is an associate editor for Workforce Magazine. She has also interned with Human Capital Media where she did research for her articles. She has produced over 100 articles in Workforce Magazine which I fell warranted her score here.

Information/Content: 30/30 –The information was on point and it was relative to what is happening now. The Content was from multiple sources and it contained an argument for both sides. She sited other books and articles to support her article.

Structures & Format: 20/20 – The article was well written and organized, it was very easy to follow.

Site & Access: 10/10 – The article was featured in the Workforce magazine website which is accessible to digital subscribers as well as 50,000+ circulated magazines.

Purpose & Other: 9/10 – This article was very relevant to what the future is going to bring, I think she chose an important topic and she nailed all the concerns facing organizations an employee’s right now.