Ethical Issues Involving Workplace Monitoring

Introduction

In modern workplaces, Information Technology (IT) has created a new level of productivity and enabled considerable improvements in workplace efficiency. Nevertheless, the pros of this technological integration should not be ignored, but rather, ethical concerns should be given due consideration, in this case, with workplace monitoring. This paper seeks to delve into the ethical issues involving workplace monitoring, evaluate its impact, inform the current situation, research, analyze, and give opinions on these matters.

Concerns Regarding Employee Surveillance at the Workplace

Monitoring the workplace means utilizing technological devices to observe and follow workers’ activities online and offline during working hours. While employers may argue that such monitoring is necessary for productivity, security, and compliance reasons, it raises several ethical concerns: While employers may support such monitoring for productivity, security, and compliance reasons, it raises several ethical concerns:

Privacy Invasion occurs when continuous surveillance of employees’ emails, internet usage, and even workers’ physical movements within the workspace may violate the human right to privacy. Such actions affect employees who might become extremely uncomfortable thinking that their every move is subject to surveillance, negatively influencing their morale and trust. It may also spill over to affect their productivity at the workplace.

Lack of consent happens when, in some cases, employees are not aware of the boundaries which a monitoring activity can exceed or the purpose for which employers undertake monitoring (Association for Computing Machinery, n.d.). The employees also do not get to either consent or dissent to such monitoring. This opaqueness, consequently, distorts the principles of autonomy and informed consent, which are the most essential elements of the ethical decision-making process.

Potential for abuse occurs when workplace monitoring systems collect a large amount of data, and the opportunity for its misuse and abuse can appear. Employers can use the data to discriminate against, retaliate against or commit unfair labour practices; the rights of employees are then at risk, and their well-being worsens.

Adverse psychological effects occur where the cognitive processes of monitoring can lead to stress, anxiety, and the feeling of always being under scrutiny among employees. It may negatively influence employee morale, causing high staff turnover and resulting in distorted organizational culture and poor performance.

Implications of Ethical Issues

The ethical issues surrounding workplace monitoring have significant implications for individuals and technological practices. The ethical issues surrounding workplace monitoring have a substantial impact on both individuals and technical practices:

Employee rights culture is an issue as surveillance systems at work are against the fundamental principles of privacy, self-determination, and respect for human dignity at work. The unresolved ethical dilemmas about using AI in employment can damage the trust between employers and employees, resulting in a toxic work environment and increasing legal risks.

Organizational culture is an issue as the moral breakdown in a company’s data monitoring system may cause the violation of the values and principles of the organization. Whereas a surveillance-based culture breeds distrust and stifles creativity, collaboration, and innovation, it will obstruct long-term success and performance (Kayas, 2023).

Technological development is an issue because monitoring technologies are increasing in many workplaces. It calls for a balanced discussion on the ethical frameworks that inform the systems’ development and implementation. Developers and legislators must ensure the individual’s privacy and freedom are kept secure, and their interests are treated equally with business interests.

Data, work, research, and opinions.

The latest studies on workplace surveillance reveal a growing trend pushed mainly by developments in surveillance technology and the need for more control and productivity. An American Management Association report, which involved surveying 80% of large companies in the United States, revealed that they utilize online monitoring of their employees in one form or another (American Management Association, 2020). In addition, research has focused on the effectiveness of employee monitoring in enhancing productivity and security, and the findings are controversial. Whereas the proponents of watching imply that it can discourage misconduct and bring accountability, the critics think it is ineffective in improving performance and can lead to a culture of fear and mistrust.

Positions of employers and workers on workplace monitoring are not the only ones that differ. Some shareholders and customers cannot agree on the topic. In general, managers’ main goal is to guard against the fear of losing control and avoid risks. Therefore, they apply monitoring practices based on the view that they must ensure safety and adherence to rules and regulations. While some say that monitoring and other aspects of employee surveillance guarantee accountability and fair treatment of the rights and dignity of people, others claim that there should be more transparency, consent, and accountability in all of these matters and not violate the personal rights and dignity of the people.

Conclusion

Once we have looked into ethical issues created by monitoring the workplace, we must develop solutions that work. Employers have valid reasons for concern, compliance, and productivity but must balance them carefully with their workers’ rights and well-being. Transparency, informed consent and ethical leadership are necessary to deal with ethical issues arising from workplace monitoring and creating, as well as the digital era work culture based on trust, respect and accountability.

References

Association for Computing Machinery. (n.d.). ACM code of ethics and professional conduct. Retrieved from https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics

American Management Association (2020). The Latest on Workplace Monitoring and Surveillance. Retrieved fromhttps://www.amanet.org/articles/the-latest-on-workplace-monitoring-and-surveillance/

Kayas, O. G. (2023). Workplace surveillance: A systematic review, integrative framework, and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 168, 114212.