More than half of British employees aremonitored by computerised surveillancesystems, adding to stress in the workplace, says research
from the
Economic and Social Research Council(ESRC).
The research says 52% of all British employees report being
monitored by a computerised system that keeps a log or record of
their work.
The picture is confirmed by employers, says the ESRC, with
managements of one in five workplaces reporting that all employees
are now covered by computer-based monitoring systems.
The ESRC says the spread of ICT surveillance has led to a sharp
increase in work strain, reflected by feelings of exhaustion,
anxiety and work-related worry.
There is an overall 7.5% rise in strain among employees whose
work is checked by ICT systems compared with those in similar jobs
who are controlled by more traditional methods.
Evidence of work strain is particularly strong among
administrative and white-collar staff in places such as call
centres, where it rises by 10% among employees whose work is
continually checked by ICT systems.
"Computers and IT systems are bringing surveillance to most
workplaces," said Michael White, who co-directed the research
study. "Now, for the first time, we can see how this development is
damaging employees' well-being."
The research, funded as part of the ESRC's Future of Work
research programme, covers the period 1984-2004, and shows
significant changes in the prospects and job conditions of British
employees.
The results are published in Market, Class, and Employment, a
recently published book co-authored by Patrick McGovern, Stephen
Hill, Colin Mills and Michael White.