MPs to examine impact of connected tech and automation on employee rights

31 October 2022

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee examines the tradeoff between workplace productivity and employee rights raised by connected technology and AI.

Witnesses

Tuesday 1 November 2022

At 10.00am

Dr Matthew Cole, Postdoctoral Researcher, the Fairwork Project
Dr Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Business Economics, Brunel University London
Dr Efpraxia Zamani, Senior Lecturer of Information Systems, University of Sheffield

MPs are expected to consider reports that Amazon workers were given wristbands to track their movements and “nudge” them in different directions. The session may also cover reports that the business used data collected by smart technology - including navigation software, scanners, smart devices, and thermal cameras - to automatically terminate employees based on “time off task” and create “heat maps” to track union sentiment.

The third session of the inquiry into Connected tech is expected to explore the impact of wearable health devices in the workplace, which have been found to increase productivity while heightening feelings of anxiety and guilt.

MPs are also likely to examine the impact of connected technology in healthcare, manufacturing, and policing. The Committee may weigh the preventative benefits of wearable healthcare devices against privacy risks. Facial recognition technology used by police may also come under scrutiny.

Further information

Inquiry: Luke Chesser/Unsplash