Editorial
The dangers of worker surveillance have been demonstrated time and again, but as is so often the case when discussing the future of work, managers continue regardless of the evidence of its harm.
Now there’s more evidence, from a recent parliamentary enquiry into the practice in Australia. “The Legislative Assembly’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee was asked to examine the effectiveness of existing workplace surveillance and privacy laws, the impact of workplace surveillance on workers and workplace relations, potential privacy and data security risks, and best practice regulation interstate and overseas," the authors explained.
A Workforce Powerless to Stop Surveillance
The study, which collated evidence from trade unions, industry groups, academia, individual workers, government bodies and legal experts, found that workforce surveillance is widespread. What's more, it often takes place without worker knowledge.
To make things worse, if they are aware that their employer is monitoring them, they can rarely do anything about it. This powerlessness is not just an internal organizational matter either. The report explains that employment laws haven't really kept pace with the rate of technological development, so workers can't even turn to the law for help.
The report outlines how surveillance technology is tracking people's movements, conversations and digital behaviors, onsite as well as remote. This monitoring is often done without the knowledge or consent of workers.
The practice is widespread across industries. For instance, workers in finance were monitored by a mobile app that tracked their location. Similarly, biometric data was taken from nurses, and factory workers were monitored on the time taken to complete tasks. That's before you get to the various ways in which remote workers are monitored and spied upon.
As technology has advanced, so too have the ways in which workers can be tracked, with AI commonly tracking everything from the effort people put in, to their mood and wellbeing. This creates a huge privacy and cybersecurity risk given the breadth and depth of data being harvested.
Worker Surveillance Doesn’t Help
Obviously, in some circumstances surveillance is both legitimate and sensible – for instance, monitoring the fatigue of drivers for their health and safety, or preventing theft and fraud at work.
While these are valid reasons, the report goes on to highlight how the majority of surveillance isn't backed up by evidence. Managers may think it improves productivity or otherwise makes the workplace better, but the reality is often different.
Surveillance causes stress, as well as reducing motivation and employee engagement. The report also highlights the fundamental power imbalance created by surveillance, along with the increased risk of discrimination. Managers monitor the wrong thing, or fall into the trap of measuring what is measurable, such as keystrokes, rather than what is actually important for the role.
Workplace Surveillance Regulation Lacking
Perhaps the most damning aspect of the report is the exposure of the legislative environment. The authors explain that regulators have largely failed to keep pace with the changing technological landscape, and are powerless to curtail the worst excesses of managers.
“The evidence clearly showed that current state and federal laws are ineffective at regulating workplace surveillance and protecting employees’ privacy and rights," they explained.
Existing privacy laws seldom offer much protection, with the report highlighting that smaller businesses are usually exempt from such laws anyway. Much of the responsibility for ethical deployment of monitoring solutions is on organizations, with the inevitable consequences when boundaries are pushed further than is healthy.
“Workplace surveillance that is excessive and lacks transparency has been shown to have a negative impact on employees’ morale, job satisfaction and commitment to their organization," the authors explained.
Recommendations About Workplace Surveillance
The report concludes with 18 recommendations to help make things fairer and more equitable for employees. These recommendations include greater transparency around what surveillance is deployed and consultation with employees before it's done.
They also urge policymakers to ban surveillance undertaken without employees' consent, while also prohibiting the collection of certain kinds of data, such as biometric data.
The findings of the inquiry paint a picture of a workforce that is increasingly exposed, yet insufficiently protected. The rapid proliferation of surveillance technologies has outpaced not only legislation but also our ethical frameworks and cultural understanding of what constitutes a fair and respectful workplace.
Worker Autonomy at a Crossroads
We are now at a crossroads. Policymakers, employers and civil society must decide whether to continue down the path of unchecked surveillance, eroding trust and dignity in the process, or to implement stronger safeguards that place human rights and worker autonomy at the center of the digital workplace.
If implemented, the committee’s recommendations offer a roadmap. But the real challenge will be ensuring these proposals are not just heard, but acted upon, because while the technology may be sophisticated, the principle at stake is simple: People deserve to be treated as more than data points.
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Without meaningful reform, we risk entrenching a working culture where suspicion trumps trust, and productivity comes at the expense of basic rights. That may serve short-term managerial interests, but it is a long-term failure for everyone else.
Editor's Note: Read more about the ongoing pursuit of peak productivity:
- Balancing Efficiency, Productivity and Employee Well-Being — Organizations have spent billions of dollars on well-being programs, yet well-being has stagnated and productivity has suffered. What's going on?
- Perplexed About Productivity? You're Not Alone — Leaders cite low productivity as their biggest challenge, but do they even know what to measure?
- Work Smarter, Lead Better: Time Management Strategies for Inclusive Teams — Optimizing time is about more than checking off tasks: it’s about creating space for people to do their best work while maintaining a healthy workplace culture.
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