"Employees need to be concerned with new information and sur
New technologies and practices, such as background checks, video surveillance, and computer monitoring infringe upon the privacy of employees in workplaces. Workers have a right to privacy, but this right "can be overridden by competing moral principles that follow the contract of employment" (Lee, 2003). Technological developments, in many cases, have alleviated work and improved work conditions. At the same time, new technological developments have caused new problems for workers. Workplace monitoring is a vital part of today's business world since employers require an efficient and competent workforce in order to survive in a competitive environment, and customers demand and deserve high quality goods and services (Persson, 2003). The employees who produce these goods and services have a responsibility to work to the best of their ability for the financial reward that they receive, but they do not forfeit their rights to privacy by virtue of being employees. Although workplace monitoring can be justified in some circumstances, privacy is a moral right, and as such there is a presumption against its infringement. Despite today's technological advancements, employees need to be concerned with new information and surveillance tech
However, employers have provided tools to monitor employees in the workplace. Many fear that "employee background checks will dig into their past in ways that have nothing to do with the job" (Miller, 2000). Employees feel their employers do not trust them if they have to monitor them every chance they get. Video surveillance can be used to track an employee's movements around a building and inform employers of where their employees are and what they are doing at all given times. 70 per cent of all pornography in Canada is downloaded between the hours of 9 A. Not only can companies reduce the circulation of sexual or racial materials, they can also help prevent any leakage of confidential information and ensure that employees are on task and not wasting time doing unnecessary tasks. Employees have raised issues of employer intrusion into this where the personal history or conditions of employment on appropriate responses to inquires about personal activities that are not work-related. Management claims that electronic monitoring ensures proper use of time, courteous response to customers, and prevention of criminal activity (Lee, 2003). It is argued that "privacy is a moral right, while such surveillance and monitoring can be justified in certain cases, there is a presumption against the infringement of privacy" (Lee, 2003). An employee is more likely to risk promotion if he or she wastes time visiting inappropriate web sites and sending out unsolicited emails that are not company-related. Overall, monitoring internet usage and email does enable employers to watch closely over their employees, however, it hinders the employees from performing to the best of their ability when they constantly feel pressured and threatened, which does not foster a positive working environment. However, it may also lead to loss of employees' morale and the invasion of their privacy which can result in the employee not performing to the best of their ability, therefore, hindering production and losing potential profits for the company. Autonomy involves an individual's own personal and individual liberties (Miller, 2000). Regardless of where this monitoring takes place, surveillance should not be permitted in restrooms or lounge areas of the workplace as they invade the personal space of employees. Nonetheless, employees should definitely worry about new information and surveillance technologies as their privacy is invaded, and this is an issue that employees will have to battle for years to come as new and more sophisticated means of surveillance technologies are developed.
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Acceptance Essays
