Review of pros-cons polemics of workplace surveillance: survey comparison and analysis

Given the present scenario of the rapid advancement of information technology and the consequent communication explosion, a wide range of techniques and methods are used to monitor employees - on/off-the-job. Employers increasingly collect (store and further use) data on employees – both workplace behavior and personal information – to benefit the business, raising significant concerns over employees. Many of the current scholarship in this milieu seems to lack the proper impact assessment. This article, after conceptualizing workplace surveillance along with a review of its pros and cons, compares different surveys and studies conducted on employee surveillance and makes a critical analysis of its consequences. It implies finally an attitudinal change and behavioural transformation through improved commitment and self-responsibility for an improved workplace benefiting for both the employers and employees alike.