Reference no: EM133045133

How this development could affect demands made in HR? Article Summary

Due to the rise in COVID cases and new variants emerging the return to physical workplaces has been greatly delayed. This has prompted employers to incorporate tracking software to monitor employees working remotely to ensure everyone is staying focused on the task at hand while social distancing. According to research conducted by Top 10 VPN the use of employee surveillance software has increased to 50%. The surveillance software varies depending on the company but they usually monitor web traffic during the workday and monitor employees physically using the built in microphone and camera. Though this increase in the use of surveillance software is frightening it isn't new at all. Most employees are surveilled on a daily basis through security cameras to minimize time theft and capture inappropriate conduct as it occurs. The only difference now is the invasion of privacy has invaded the private homes of those working remotely. This creates a new ethical dilemma whether it is morally alright for employers to invade the private homes of its employees due to a pandemic. In places like the United States of America there is a lot of leeway for employers when it comes to invading employee privacy as they have fewer privacy protection provisions. Though privacy laws can vary from state to state this still creates a very complex situation when extending the surveillance to private spaces especially when the employee is unaware they he or she is being monitored. That being said, employers aren't obligated to use the surveillance softwares to its full potential, some allow the option to select what they wish to monitor at any given moment. For example you may have access to view an employee's camera and web traffic but choose only to monitor the web traffic. Employers haven't had the warmest response to the new software with most joining Reddit forums to discuss ways to trick the software into believing you're working and even finding ways to block the software entirely. Some employees have gone to greater extremes by threatening to quit if the software is implemented.