Electronic Monitoring in the Workplace

Due to the use of new technologies coupled with the fact that there is an increasing amount of work being done online whether on the Internet intranets LANs or other networks extensive employee monitoring by employers is inexpensive and easy. Employers have legitimate concerns about the efficiency of their employees and the quality of the goods or services produced in relation to security. Additionally monitoring can assist in employee health and safety help reduce or eliminate sexual racial and other forms of harassment reveal areas in which training is required and reduce the potential for crime corruption and other illegal activities. On the other hand there is rising concern about the rights of employees especially with respect to their rights to privacy but also for example with respect to questions of justice and employee autonomy and dignity to the legitimacy of some informed consent to respect for employees as persons and to trust. Clearly there are conflicting rights and interests. Ways need to be found to resolve these conflicts in a manner that is fair to all.