Occupational privacy and the role of surveillance devices in the work place (Essay Sample)

Occupational Privacy & the role of surveillance devices in the work place
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Abstract
This paper aims at studying out the advantages of occupational monitoring, and the role that surveillance plays in the privacy of employees. The aspect of privacy was surveyed to have various advantages, which makes it possible for its implementation in the workplace. The other aspect that the study sought to work on was what disadvantages it played in the lives and privacy of employees. There were various aspects like monitoring, which enhances the smooth running of affairs between employees. The aspect of employee monitoring has various advantages including effective work management that makes it possible for the smooth affairs of the organization (Wallace, 2004).
The aspect of monitoring in an organization makes it possible for employees to have better communications. This is an advantage that makes it a better idea to implement. The other advantage that was attributed with employee monitoring is that it leads to productivity. This is an aspect that makes it better for an organization to achieve its objectives. However, employee monitoring has in its ethical aspect deemed as compromising. Additionally, the privacy in the workplace is not only compromised, but aspects like autonomy, dignity, trust, and respects are compromised. This has led to various questions that the paper aims at answering. Employers need to realize that monitoring should be done in an ethical manner. This article has gone ahead to assess how far organizations have gone ahead and suppressed the privacy of employees.
Introduction
There are various aspects that can arise as a result of employee and employer mistrust. The aspect of organization privacy is very common and very important in the workplace. This makes it possible for employees to provide their best and work with a motive of achieving the organization’s objective. The growth in technology has, however, led to the change of this aspect. The evolving nature of technology has made it possible for the development of gadgets like surveillance cameras, which can be used to monitor all the events happening in an organization. Admittedly, conflict between employers and employees is bound to occur when employees realize they are being surveyed without their consent. This is an aspect that can affect the productivity of employees, leading to poor results. Additionally, the use of surveillance gadgets like cameras, can lead to mistrust, and also heighten the tensions among employees and employers (Rotenberg, & Laurant, 2004).
The aspect of surveillance is an integral in an organization as it makes it possible for the employee’s behaviors to be monitored. There are various gadgets of surveillance that the organization can choose to put into place ranging from systems of global positioning, chips for identifying radio frequency, video surveillance, telephone surveillance, and monitoring of keystroke. The aspect that has led to the usage of technology is not surprising as aspects like the costs of operations, are reduced. Additionally, the use of technology has also facilitated proper communication, has ensured the expansion of businesses, and also reduces the amount of inventory used (King, Nancy 2003 p 135). However, the use of technology, has led to many concerns including why employers needs the information, what they intend to do with it, and why employees need to get concerned, and the ways in which employees can ensure their privacy despite the installation of these gadgets.
Methodology
In some of the literatures done, there are those who oppose the idea of installation of surveillance. The aspect of installation is very important to an organization. Parenti (2003) in his book states that the aspect of surveillance should be done, but organizations should realize that they consider some aspects. Some of the aspects that Parenti said is that the remedies lie in the legal limitation, regulations, and a surveillance that is properly enforced. This is an aspect that makes it good as employees will realize they are under scrutiny. Parenti goes ahead to state that there are different ways and aspects where employers go wrong. The aspect of them surveying their employees makes them liable to secretive information (p 150).
Various surveys have been conducted to know the organizations that practice surveillance. One of the surveys was conducted by the management association of America, which revealed that about 45 % of companies and organizations in the US practice surveillance. As a result of the rise in technology, this is an aspect that has been on the rise. There are various systems like the computer monitoring, which are easily installed in computers. This software monitors activities done using the computer and emails the manager with reports, which have been transacted with the computer (Nolan, 2003). Many employees fail to realize that their employers have access to their click stream data. Additionally, employees should realize that any information they communicate with other computers is also accessed by their employers. This is achieved through the use of providers like internet services. This is the aspect that makes Parenti (2003) state that the installation of surveillance gadgets should be known to everyone (p 151).
Wallace (2004) states that organizations which monitors their employees, use aspects like systems of global positioning, chips for identifying radio frequency, video surveillance, telephone surveillance, and monitoring of keystroke. There are various justifications that Wallace states that lead to surveillance including productivity concerns, security concerns, legal liability concerns, and cyberslacking. The various reasons why employers obtain such information are in regards to business. This is a way to monitor how an employee is performing. Employers may monitor the communications between employees to ensure that they do not leak the organization’s trade secrets. These are secrets, which should not be let out to the open. The other aspect that makes surveillance common with employers is that they try to avoid liability. Occasionally if a customer is discriminated, or harassed, the employer or organization is apprehended accountable for an act that was initially done by an employee (p 245).
Corry and Nutz (2003) states that there are various reasons why employers keep and collect information. Corry and Nutz argue that the information collected by employers is used for various circumstances like literature of criminal. These criminal activities include materials, which are sexually harassing, and others like hate literature, which make them liable for such actions. These two authors state that information collected by employers is used for internal company. The information collected by employers is used internally. This information may include employee performance, which employers can use for better allocation of resources, and planning, or when trying to identify where additional training is required. The authors have also realized that employers share this information with other companies. This is an aspect that shows how personal employee information can be compromised (p 243).
Nolan (2003) explains that monitoring should be done under the watch of unions, which govern employees. This he explains that the role that labor unions plays in this issue is that they monitor and make sure that the installation of these gadgets is made known to every employee. This ensures that employees realize when they are being monitored, and this makes them avoid any negative effect. Labor unions need to come up with laws which will govern the installation of these machines. These unions also make it possible for employees to be notified when they are being monitored (p 225).
Monitoring of employee is an aspect that can greatly affect their health. As Parenti (2003) explains, employees’ moral issue tends to decrease as a result of them being secretively monitored. Employees will assume that the management is surveying them with a motive of knowing how they behave amongst themselves. If employees are well notified regarding any surveillance material, they tend to have increased moral issue in the workplace leading to better productivity. Employees may also suffer from stress as a result of surveillance. This will affect their health as they are bound to get depressed leading to the loss of productivity. Employees also tend to be psychologically affected as a result of them being secretively monitored, thus this may affect their productivity (p 201).
Wallace (2004) explains that employees are always concerned about their personal information. Any leakage regarding employee personal information can affect the employee. Personal information recorded by surveillance gadgets is of concern to an employee. The fact that employers can share employee information with other companies makes it an aspect that is against the rights of employees. Employees are always concerned about their personal information as this can help the management determine various aspects like respect, trust, productivity, and determination of an employee. Personal information recorded can also lead to the sacking of an employee an aspect that makes them fear about their stay in an organization (p 285).
Findings and Discussion
Based on the above researches conducted, it is very evident that the aspect of monitoring is very essential to an organization. This is an aspect that has displayed that various issues can be achieved as a consequence of monitoring. Some of the advantages of monitoring as explained by Aranda (2002) are that they enhance communication between management and employees. This is an a...