Watching me, watching you: Worker surveillance in the UK after the pandemic
Article
Worker surveillance is as old as work itself, but new technology is making it easier and cheaper than ever.
Data suggests that workplace surveillance practices have hugely expanded during the pandemic and are here to stay – though there are prominent data gaps around who, and to what extent, people are affected.
Unaddressed, the spread of these practices could leave workers permanently worse off, with the most adverse outcomes likely to impact those with the least power in the labour market.
In this report, we make policy recommendations that would help redress the balance of power between workers and employers. They would ensure that when surveillance is happening it is fair and proportionate as the law intends, respecting worker’s fundamental rights.
Related items

More than a safety net: The welfare state as springboard to economic success and a better country
A perceived conflict between social spending and economic dynamism is deeply embedded in both Scottish and UK political discourse.
Far from settled: The government’s ‘earned settlement’ consultation
How long should people have to wait until they can permanently settle in the UK? This is the core question underpinning the Home Office’s ‘earned settlement’ policy, currently out for consultation.
Rethinking public sector productivity
This is the second in a series of IPPR Scotland blogs as part of our project on Employment, Productivity and Reform in the Scottish Public Sector. This project is funded by the Robertson Trust.