The Workplace Surveillance and Privacy Issue

The Workplace Surveillance and Privacy Issue

               A large controversy in the field of business is the workplace surveillance and workplace privacy conflict. This controversy was aroused because with the current technology, surveillance tools, such as cameras and phone call recorders, are often used in workplaces for various purposes. This situation causes many people to concern about workplace privacy and the necessity of workplace surveillance.

            Many people support the use of surveillance devices used in workplaces, because they deem that there are necessary importance for these uses. Surveillance in companies and workplaces is often used for two kinds of reasons. Firstly, the executive managers in companies can put an eye on their workers and employees, to see if anyone is using their time at work to do other irreverent things. For employees who know that there are surveillances on them, they will increase their productivity, which is a benefit for the companies. Fewer employees would violent company rules and regulations, and thus keep peace in the workplaces. Secondly, surveillance technology is used for practical purposes. For example, a phone call recorder and a surveillance tool on company emails can prevent the loss of important communications and prevent crucial information from getting loss. Surveillance tools can also serve the purpose of limiting legal liabilities and protecting sensitive information, which are all working for the companies’ best interest. These people who agree with workplace surveillance is looking out for the companies’ best interest.

            Other people argue that workplace surveillance violates employees’ privacy and disagree with the use of surveillance tools in workplaces. These people’s argument is based on the powerful fact that people are entitled to privacy. Since people have the freedom of speech and other basic human rights, they are also entitled to keeping them private. These people also worry that some people might use the surveillance tools to do ill to the employees. These people’s opinions are concerned with the rights of the common working class, and they want to limit any chances of exploiting the workers.

     
       Both sides’ arguments are reasonable and effective. The workplace surveillance and privacy issue is still yet unsolved and popular among the field of business.

riki chen

Works Cited

Bernstein, Rebecca. “ 5 Current Ethical Issues in Business.” Shorter University Online, 29 Nov. 2016, online.shorter.edu/business/current-ethical-issues-in-business/.