AFFIRMATIVE — EMPLOYMENT — WORKPLACE SPYING — SIGNIFICANCE 281

WORKPLACE SPYING HARMS WORKERS PERSONALLY

PERSISTENT WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE INCREASES NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE BY WORKERS

Robert Verkaik, The Independent (London), March 7, 1999, SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. 2 TITLE: BIG BROTHER IS SERIOUSLY DAMAGING YOUR HEALTH Web // acs-EE2001

The report's author, Michael Ford, comments: "The health and safety of consequences of monotonous, tightly-regulated tasks involving a loss of autonomy are more and more clear. For others persistent surveillance leads to a sense of insecurity, loss of trust, feelings of inhibition or discontent."

INTRUSIONS INTO WORKPLACE PRIVACY ARE DAMAGING EMPLOYEE HEALTH

Robert Verkaik, The Independent (London), March 7, 1999, SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. 2 TITLE: BIG BROTHER IS SERIOUSLY DAMAGING YOUR HEALTH Web // acs-EE2001

A new report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) claims that modern methods of workplace surveillance have become so intrusive that they are affecting workers' health.

Phone-tapping, the interception of e-mail and the use of computers to count individual key strokes are now common practice among some of Britain's biggest employers. Used in conjunction with psychological assessment, drug testing, and in some cases, even genetic screening, workplace surveillance, argues the report, is causing depression, an increase in sick leave and repetitive strain injury.

WORKERS NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO,LET OFF STEAM, AND MONITORING PREVENTS THAT

EVE TAHMINCIOGLU, St. Petersburg Times, February 01, 1999, SECTION: BUSINESS; COVER STORY; Pg. 11 TITLE: BUSINESS TOOL OR BIG BROTHER? // acs-EE2001

While few people argue that monitoring or restricting employee behavior that harasses others is justifiable, privacy experts contend workers need to be allowed to let out some steam during the daily grind.

"We are all human beings and have a natural desire for space and information privacy even if we are paid for that time," said Effy Oz, management processor at Penn State and the author of Ethics for the Information Age.

Oz said employers have to strike a balance between satisfying their legitimate reasons for monitoring versus creating a reasonable quality of work life.

"What's the purpose?" Oz asked. "Are you trying to monitor and increase productivity or is it just snooping to fulfill your voyeurism?"