Black workers are most at risk of workplace surveillance

According to a study by the Institute for Public Policy Research, black employees are most likely to be targeted for workplace surveillance.

Think tank says that workers with low-skilled and “low autonomy” jobs will be hit the hardest by the rapid increase in the use of technologies like facial recognition, keystroke monitoring and biometric tracking. These are roles where workers from ethnic minorities and blacks are overrepresented.

The IPPR, in its report Negotiating the Future of Work: Legislating Workers from Surveillance found that black workers were 26% more likely than white workers to have low autonomy roles, and 42% likely to hold low-skilled jobs. 73% of black workers are not union members.

The likelihood of being employed in these roles is higher for younger workers (between 16-29), as well as employees older than 60. This is also true for people between 30-59.

IPPR is of the opinion that employers can introduce surveillance tools at work without consent if there are no laws that give employees a greater voice in how they’re monitored.

The group is calling on the government to introduce a new law that will ensure employees are consulted prior to any new surveillance technologies being introduced.

The report also recommends that surveillance be added to the collective bargaining subject list so that unions may represent workers and engage in negotiations on any issues of concern.

IPPR wants the government to force employers to reveal what data was collected and why, as well as how they will use it.

It also says that employers who breach their duties should face financial penalties and access to tribunals.

Many employers use tracking software to monitor how their employees perform tasks and whether they are at the office. PwC, as an example, monitors hybrid working to ensure that employees spend the necessary time on-site.

Fintech company Revolut admitted recently that it uses a tracking tool named Karma to monitor employee behaviour in order to determine how well staff members meet risk and compliance guidelines.

The Employment Rights Bill doesn’t include new legislation regarding workplace surveillance. However, the government has promised to consult on this issue, and how staff and unions should be included in decisions about the deployment of such technologies.

IPPR researcher Joseph Evans and co-author said that workplace surveillance has increased rapidly in the last few years but the law hasn’t kept pace.

“Black workers tend to work in places where the risk of intrusive monitoring is higher. New technologies could exacerbate the existing inequalities on the labour market if urgent reform is not undertaken.

“We need to give all workers, especially those at greatest risk, the right to have their say on how they are monitored and managed.”

He said that he welcomed the pledges made to introduce rights of negotiation, but urged this to be codified into law “as quickly as possible”.

He added, “People need to have a voice in how they are monitored and managed.”

Personnel Today offers a number of opportunities for change management.

Browse Change Management Jobs