Growing trend of electronic surveillance of employees working from home

 

According to a survey, electronic surveillance of domestic workers is on the rise and the UK government is being asked to enact laws banning the use of webcams.

"It was very disturbing," says Chris (pseudonym). One of my managers monitors people's personal computers to see what people do, not just at work, all the time! It was a wonderful way of working. "

Chris Sheffield is an engineer. When the lockdown began, 31-year-old Chris's company asked most of its staff to work from home.

They were asked to connect their personal computers to the more powerful office computers so that they could continue their high-tech operations.

"We didn't mind," says Chris. But one day when I went to the office, I saw that a lot of screens were on and everyone's desktop was visible there.

"One of our managers was not only watching our work, he could see all the time what we were doing, like what we watch on YouTube, etc."

The global corona virus has forced millions to work from their homes instead of their offices.

And many companies use technology to find out what their employees are doing. People can be monitored directly with the help of cameras. Movement sensors can be used. Keyboard buttons and mouse movements can be recorded.

People's bosses can take screenshots of their employees' desktops so they can see that they are working, not wasting time on the Internet.

However, a trade union called Prospect wants legislation to limit the use of surveillance technology by companies.

She wants the government to explicitly ban the use of webcams, except when employees are attending a meeting or call.

According to Prospect's latest survey, 32% of home workers are being monitored, up from 24% in April. In 18- to 34-year-olds, the rate rises to 48.

The union says the rate of people being monitored at home with the help of cameras has more than doubled since April, from 5% to 13%.

"We have a habit of companies keeping an eye on their employees, but when people are working in their homes, it becomes a different aspect," said Mike Clancy, the union's general secretary.

"The new technology enables companies to have a consistent viewing system in their employees' homes and there are few laws regarding this technology."

The Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO) recommends that employees find out before the monitoring begins, whether in the office or at home. In addition, employees should be clear about why this is being done.

The ICO also tells companies to think about the potential negative effects of this monitoring and consider that they may have other monitoring methods, such as phone calls and e-mail

When Chris found out that a manager in his company was overseeing everything in his house, he left the company. They believe that over-monitoring is detrimental

"When I started working from home, I was no less working," he says. But when I found out what was happening, I was upset. "

"I spend a lot of time designing things on paper. During this time I am away from the screen and if anyone is looking at it they will not know if I am working or not.

"It simply came to our notice then. I was watching Netflix downstairs, but it wasn't." It's a very blasphemous and impersonal way of monitoring people. "

Anna Thomas, director of the think tank Institute of Future of Work, says oversight is putting pressure on staff.

But companies that are using the technology say they are doing the right thing and that it has become difficult to monitor work because so many employees are out of sight of managers.

According to government research, as code restrictions are being lifted, fewer people are now working from home, but many are still doing so.

The government suggests that people should be allowed to work part-time from home.

An ICO spokesman said: "People expect their private lives to be private and to have some privacy in the workplace.