Millions Face Workplace Monitoring Stress


Millions of UK employers are reporting exhaustion, work-related anxiety and a deteriorating family life, according to extensive surveys of both employers and employees funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

The researchers say rising work strain is being caused by the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to monitor and check work continuously. 'ICT surveillance can seriously damage employees' well-being,' said Michael White of Policy Studies Institute, one of the authors of the research.

Over half (52 per cent) of all British employees report a computerised system keeps a log or record of their work. Nearly one quarter (23 per cent) say that this information is used to check their performance.

So do people processing paperwork for entry to computer databases, so do lorry and delivery drivers whose work can be tracked by satellite navigation, others involved in distribution, as well as city traders, and people on production lines where progress is computer monitored.

The report concludes the main consequence of ICT surveillance has been a sharp increase in work strain, involving feelings of exhaustion, anxiety and worry related to work.

Overall there is a 7.5 per cent increase in work strain for employees whose work is checked by ICT systems, compared with those in similar jobs but controlled by more traditional methods.

ICT surveillance increased work strain on administrative and white-collar employees by 10 per cent.

For semi-skilled and routine workers concentrated in manufacturing and distribution the increase was eight per cent when under ICT surveillance.

A series of reports by Hazards magazine have linked increase surveillance to reduced productivity and increases in stress, RSI and workplace injuries.

TUC head of health and safety, Hugh Robertson, commented that many of these surveillance systems were in breach of guidelines from the information commissioner and that surveillance systems should only be introduced where they were agreed with the union and workers were fully aware of how they worked and what was and was not permitted.

Source: TUC Risks


 
 
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