The rapid boost in health-tracking technology is, in many ways, highly beneficial – companies can ensure their teams are safe and productive far more easily. However, these improvements also come with an unwelcome risk to job security.

With companies now able to track more and more intimate details of their staff, the pressure is tenfold for workers to perform at their highest level. If people feel coerced into the data collection or find their data used in performance reviews, it can cause unnecessary mental strain. Greater responsibility needs to be placed not on workers, but on employers.

Too much of a good thing

On the surface, this is nothing new. Data collection is often used to create targeted marketing schemes to maximise profits, through a data collection company like https://shepper.com/, for instance. Where new methods differ is in how intimate the data collected is.

Companies are able to access increasingly intimate data from their employees, be it a fingerprint scan or a retina scan. These provide huge security benefits, but can come at the cost of job security for workers.

With Amazon in particular, artificial intelligence is being increasingly embedded in their systems, even for surveillance. The intent is to promote greater productivity and worker safety, yet many find the changes invasive.

Some companies are now tracking health data, too, which can include steps, heart rate, and even sleep quality.

In tandem with the AI security cameras, ‘behavioural biometrics’ can be monitored, with people’s behaviour being scrutinised down to the most minute detail.

The reality of the situation is that companies will begin by experimenting with the new technology in order to see how far they can push it.

The need for balance

Although biometrics can undoubtedly provide greater worker safety, it’s also needlessly scrutinising. Workers confess to feeling insecure and anxious about the constant monitoring.

Not only does this lead to worsening health, especially mentally, but it can also drive a disengagement from work, counteracting the productivity it’s supposed to inspire. As with anything, it’s important to strike a balance and avoid going too far with developments.