The Workplace Surveillance Act in NSW was first enacted in 2005.
Since then, workplaces have been transformed by smartphones, apps, GPS, remote work, wearable technology, biometric systems and AI. The way workers are monitored today can be dramatically different from the kinds of surveillance contemplated when the legislation was introduced.
One of the biggest changes since 2005 is that work can now happen almost anywhere. A worker might be at home using a laptop, personal phone and workplace apps while still being subject to workplace monitoring.
Workers can now be monitored through:
- CCTV and webcams
- Computer activity, screenshots, keystrokes and mouse movement
- Emails, messages and phone calls
- GPS and location tracking
- Productivity scores, rankings and performance metrics
- Automated rostering and task allocation
- Biometric and facial recognition technology
- Wearable devices
- AI and automated systems used to assess performance or make decisions
- Monitoring of breaks, movement and time away from work areas
We have just completed a survey on what this looks like in your workplace, and whether it is affecting your privacy, safety, stress, ability to take breaks or your day-to-day working life.
Stay tuned for our report results.