Spying on staff weakens rights

THE pandemic has changed the way many of us work forever.

Staff who were used to large offices surrounded by dozens of colleagues now find themselves alone in a spare room or hunched over a kitchen table.

While many workplaces will reopen when lockdown permits, some changes to how people do their jobs will likely remain.

Many companies have promised more flexible attitudes to homeworking will persist long term. But not all employers are so enlightened. The Record reveals today the example of one communications giant where call centre staff – most of whom are currently working remotely – will be checked up on by webcams placed in their own homes.

Staff say the installation of cameras for remote workers is a “Big Brother” tactic and fear the technology could be open to abuse.

The firm, Teleperformance, has its own artificial intelligence system which it boasts “monitors and tracks staff behaviour” and “attentiveness”.

The company says its intentions are to protect customer data by ensuring its staff have clean desks with nothing to hand that could be used to record personal information.

But this looks like a breach too far of the work/life balance.

Staff concerns about their employer placing cameras in their homes are justified.

Companies should not be using lockdown as an excuse to weaken employment rights.

Many staff have adapted to the extra pressures of homeworking – in many cases balancing childcare around their duties – without complaint.

They don’t deserve Big Brother sitting next to them as a reward.