Automatic data storage of work steps burdens employees
For employees, the digitization of work can also mean forms of digital monitoring through automatic data storage. This is shown by an evaluation of a survey in large German companies.
The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) has published a Study on the effects of data storage in the workplace. The report shows that the digitization of work can also take the form of digital monitoring. After all, automatic data storage of work steps is already used in many processes today.
The evaluations show that data from a large number of employees in large German companies (40 percent) is already being stored automatically. More than a third of employees feel monitored as a result. However, employees experience a violation of privacy much less frequently (11 percent). 27 percent see data storage as an opportunity to organize work more efficiently.
Differences according to occupational characteristics
There are also differences depending on the occupational characteristics. For example, around 45 percent of employees in unskilled and semi-skilled jobs as well as in technical jobs report that data and information relating to their work is stored. Among employees in highly complex jobs, this applies to 31 percent. Employees in unskilled and semi-skilled jobs in particular perceive automatic data storage as surveillance.
The results indicate that the digital Monitoring is associated with poorer mental health and reduced autonomy. Thus, in addition to benefits such as improved process optimization or increased transparency in performance evaluation, automatic data storage can also bring new burdens and reinforce possible (existing) occupational inequalities.
Source: BAuA
