Privacy in the workplace always has been contentious, but interest has been heightened in current years by more and more sophisticated means of conducting random drug tests, background checks, and electronic performance monitoring. While the significance of privacy has increased, so has its politics, making this issue one of meticulous importance and compassion in corporate America.
As more technology has invaded the workplace, Employers are using ever more advanced technology to keep an eye on their employees. Employees have gained access to e-mail and the Interact on employer-owned computers, questions have arisen as to an employer's right to monitor personal use of these devices in the workplace. Cases indicate that an employee uses e-mail and the Interact for personal purposes at his or her peril.
In May 2000, the American Management Association conducted a survey which revealed that the number of businesses that performed at least some type of worker surveillance grew from 45% to 66% in 1999. If monitoring of Interact use is added to the list, the number of companies that keep tabs on the activities of their employees is 74%. Checking on telephone calls is also on the list of employee activities that are monitored by companies. Despite the fact that most employers tell their employees that they are being monitored, many employees let their guards down and find themselves the object of disciplinary action.
Technological advances, impairment of any kind soon may be detected by computer. Called performance or impairment testing by its creators, a gamelike device has been developed that can test judgment and motor coordination through the ability to manipulate a cursor on a VDT screen.
The benefit of this type of screening is that it is less invasive than urinalysis and would not reveal the cause of any employee impairment. Performance tests.......
