Does employee monitoring infringe on workers’ right to privacy, while working from home?

O'Connell, Elizabeth (2024) Does employee monitoring infringe on workers’ right to privacy, while working from home? Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The study investigated the impact of monitoring on the privacy of a remote worker in the home. Pre Covid a considerable portion of remote working was the preserve of Gig workers of the Gig economy. It was more often than not a lifestyle choice due to the flexibility. The Covid 19 Pandemic thrust a considerable portion of the workforce into unchartered territory at an extraordinary and unexpected pace. The preservation of an organisation, its survival and that of its employees required changes to day-to-day operations. The prolific use of monitoring technology was implemented. Little consideration was given to the balance between trust and control or the potential imbalance of a power dynamic. This research proposal explores the advantages and disadvantages of remote worker tracking through the use of monitoring technology, IoT and AI. Given the rapid pace of advancements in tracking technology capabilities, we currently reside within the era of artificial intelligence to deliver services. In order to effectively serve the interests of all stakeholders involved, it becomes imperative to foster progress in remote worker technology parameters in terms of privacy.

The survey data was collected from 26 participants using a Microsoft Survey Forms. There are three very important considerations where technology is used to monitor employees in their home environment. (a) Does the use of technology in the digital era impact on a worker’s right to privacy at home, (b) Does an employee know or understand the type of technology being used to monitor them off site, (c) Does the employee know the type of data collected and what the data will be used for?

The research examined survey responses and established a link between the way in which digital monitoring technology was viewed by an employee and the lack of transparency within organisations using such technology. It is unclear whether organisations are passively collecting data, with no clear intention of use or there is an underlying agenda to use harvested data as a measure of control against employees. The focus of the research was assisted by the thematic analysis of the data in addition to peer-reviewed journal research. By examining the potential benefits and challenges associated with worker tracking, the research provides an analysis of its efficacy, ethical considerations, impact on organizational productivity, and whether such technology is an invasion of a worker’s right and expectation to privacy. Remote working remains an integral part of an organisation, where practical post Covid. The right of a worker or indeed an employer to include remote or hybrid working as part of employment has forced adaptation within organisations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Hanly, Paul UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology > Methods of research. Technique. Experimental biology > Data processing. Bioinformatics > Artificial intelligence Q Science > Q Science (General) > Self-organizing systems. Conscious automata > Artificial intelligence R Medicine > Diseases > Outbreaks of disease > Epidemics > COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering > Telecommunications > Computer networks > Internet of things H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Business Administration
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2025 17:39
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2025 17:39
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/7889

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