The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will soon issue a public request for information (RFI) to learn more about the automated tools employers use to monitor, supervise, evaluate and manage workers , OSTP announced Monday.
“Employers are increasingly investing in technologies that monitor and track workers, and make decisions in the workplace based on that information,” the blog post on Monday said, adding that while these technologies they can benefit both workers and employers in some cases, they can also create serious problems. risks for workers.
Responses to this RFI will be used to inform new policy responses, share relevant research, data, and findings with the public, and amplify best practices among employers, labor organizations, technology vendors, developers, and others in civil society. say the blog
Those interested in providing details must do so by June 15.
Defense of workers’ rights
Constant performance monitoring can pose a risk to employee safety and mental health, OSTP said, noting it could also lead to discrimination and prevent employees from forming unions.
“Conversation monitoring can deter workers from exercising their rights to organize and bargain collectively with their employers. And, when combined with employer decisions about pay, discipline and promotion , automated surveillance can result in workers being treated differently or discriminated against,” the blog said.
Some applications of these systems, when combined with decisions about working conditions, promotion, discipline or dismissal, may also treat similar workers differently based on their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, national origin, health or disability , or another protected state.
“Some systems may also violate antitrust and privacy laws, for example, if employers use technologies to artificially lower wages,” the RFI said.
Increased automated tracking during the pandemic
OSTP noted that constant monitoring of employees specifically increased during the pandemic as the workforce became remote.
According to Gartner research, the percentage of large employers using AI tools to track their workforce may have doubled since the start of the pandemic to 60%. This surveillance is carried out either by having software on the workers’ computers or on dedicated electronic devices that the workers wear or carry on them.
Through the RFI, the administration aims to gather information about workers’ first-hand experiences with surveillance technologies; details of entrepreneurs, technology developers and vendors about how they develop, sell and use these technologies; best practices to mitigate risks for workers; relevant data and research; and ideas about how the federal government should respond to any relevant risks and opportunities, the blog said.
Last year, the Biden administration released a blueprint for an AI bill of rights, which said people “should be free from uncontrolled surveillance.”
The plan also raised concerns about the potential harm of continuous surveillance to workers, using the example of electronic surveillance aimed at preventing workers’ efforts to organize a union. The current RFI is an extension of the plan to further study the use of automated monitoring and management systems in the workplace.
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The White House has recently issued a call for information on the types of tools used for automated employee surveillance to better understand the ever-changing employment market dynamics and the implications of automation on workers. In response, Ikaroa, a full-stack tech company, has noted the urgent need for companies to invest in solutions that protect employees’ privacy and provide more visibility into their employer’s workforce analytics.
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In order to keep up with the changing landscape, it is important for organizations to put in place solutions that protect employees’ rights as well as guard against unwanted intrusion into their personal life. In this regard, Ikaroa’s suite of workplace analytics tools offer compliance and privacy protection at each layer of the automated employee surveillance process. Through its patent-pending technology, organizations can gain the insights they need to effectively monitor performance and adhere to regulations, while providing the highest level of security and privacy for their employees.
The White House’s initiative has given companies the opportunity to re-evaluate the types of tools they are using to monitor their employees and ensure they are compliant with labor regulations while protecting employee privacy. Ikaroa encourages every business to seize this moment and invest in state-of-the-art solutions that will keep their data secure and their employees protected.
