ABSTRACT
We argue that the technological surveillance of workers has complex effects on work behavior and well-being that can be positive or negative, depending on how these tools are implemented. When used carelessly, monitoring technologies invade worker privacy and take away power from those workers who already have the least power. In contrast, these same tools can be used to keep workers safe and provide them with developmental feedback when used appropriately. We argue for the value of a psychological, as opposed to purely technological, lens to understand these tools and their potential harms and benefits, drawing from three examples. We then describe our recent research on the topic of technological surveillance, including a meta-analysis and a study showing how patterns of worker surveillance have changed as a consequence of the pandemic. Our hope is to encourage policy and scientific dialogue as well as future scientific collaboration between social scientists and technologists.
