Perceptions of Internet-of-Things Surveillance by Human Resource Managers

摘要

Employers can now monitor employees to an almost unthinkable degree by using electronic devices - often common ones. But should they? Could lower morale offset or even prevent higher productivity? A sample of 172 human resource managers in Texas reported their perceptions of the most- and least-ethical uses of Internet-of-things (loT) surveillance, both when employees were and were not made aware of the practice. Results were correlated with numerous factors, such as age, familiarity with electronic devices, and type of surveillance (health, location, use of company property, off-site activities, etc.). In short, before launching any type of surveillance, HR managers should 1) know their workforce very well, and 2) ponder the potential pluses and minuses. This article can help.