How Technology Impacts Employment Chapter 6 Work Presented

How Technology Impacts Employment Chapter 6 -- Work Presented By: Nicole Capella, Logan Mudlo, & Tony Peadick

Overview How technology has shifted jobs Telecommuting & Offshoring Employee Monitoring Case Study about Misty Roberson who was fired over a post on Facebook Discuss possible solutions Conclusion

Work Is Changing as We Know It Increased productivity Computer technology reduces the need for less skilled workers? Does computer technology eliminate jobs?

Factory Workers Photo: anticap. wordpress. com

Typing Pools Photo: www. transportarchive. org. uk

Meter Readers Photo: consideratecare. com

Fear Caused People to Overreact Burning Weaving Looms Photo: usa-fashions. com Destroying Sewing Machines Photo: villageofhopeuganda. com

But…New jobs were also created.

Manufacturing Microprocessors Photo: ixbtlabs. com

Computer Security Photo: locvtvs. blogspot. com

Computer Programmer

How Far Will Automation Go?

IBM Watson Source: www. getpress. de

Offshoring The practice of moving business processes or services to another country, especially overseas, to reduce costs Data processing and computer programming jobs were some of the first offshoring examples. Popular sites include: India, Canada, Brazil, and China.

Offshoring In 2005, offshoring of knowledge work drastically increased. This generated more worries of job loss in the US Enrollment in computer science dropped after the “dot-com bust” in the early 2000 s.

Offshoring Problems and side effects of offshoring: Consumers complain about customer service representatives, because accents are difficult to understand Employees in U. S. companies need new job skills (e. g. , managing, working with foreign colleagues) Increased demand for high-skill workers in other countries forces salaries up

Telecommuting • Working at home using a computer electronically linked to one's place of employment • Mobile office using a laptop, working out of your car or at customer locations • Fulltime and part-time telecommuting

Telecommuting Benefits Reduces overhead for employers Reduces need for large offices Employees are more productive, satisfied, and loyal Reduces traffic congestion, pollution, gasoline use, and stress Reduces expenses for commuting and money spent on work clothes Allows work to continue after blizzards, hurricanes, etc.

Telecommuting Problems Employers see resentment from those who have to work at the office For some telecommuting employees, corporation loyalty weakens Odd work hours Cost for office space has shifted to the employee Security risks when work and personal activities reside on the same computer

Questions for Discussion Would you be okay with relocating to another country if your company decided to offshore?

Employee Communication and Monitoring

Main Topics 1. Learning About Job Applicants Web and Social media offer new collection of info Ways company can protect applicant’s privacy 2. Monitoring of Employees Survey What employers monitor

Web and Social Media Offer new collection of info on job applicants Employers read blogs Look for positive info (charitable work) Some hire companies that specialize in performing background checks Important to maintain and protect barrier between work and personal activities Restrict info

Questions: 1. Do you think it is an invasion of privacy for an employer to search the Web for information by and about a job applicant? 2. Should there be legal restrictions on the kinds of info about a job candidate that prospective employers can look at on the Web?

Employers Decision No ethical obligation to choose applicant based on info related to job Can learn more info about applicant Reasonable and Responsible Decisions Some employers are overcautious Employers have the most at stake when choosing applicant

Ways Company Can Help Protect Applicant’s Privacy 1. “Third-Party” Companies Inappropriate info never seen by employer Less complaints 2. Search policy clear to applicants Applicant’s approval Fake profiles

Monitoring of Employees Time Clock Time Log

Surveillance Camera Footage Surveillance cameras can now store enormous amounts of info for long periods of time due to the growth of storage capabilities.

Monitoring Employer Systems Majority of employers monitor their employees Survey by American Management Association and the e. Policy Institute in 2007 Findings Employers monitor: Telephone calls Computer usage (Web surfing) Email Voicemail

Work & Personal Communications Prohibit use of work email, computers and other devices for personal use Telecommuters 2 problems from employers perspective Overhead Security Accept trend

CASE STUDY

Ethical Scenario Misty Roberson fired as a clerk at Harbin Clinic for a post about her sick child

Misty’s Post “After being at the immediate care for two hours, I finally have answers to what was wrong with Alli’s fever because work had no appointments. Can you believe it? ”

Interested Parties Misty and her family Harbin Clinic Other employees Facebook Misty’s Friends Customers of the clinic

Benefits Employer: Demonstrates Power/Control Reassess How Operate Employees: Gain Knowledge

Negative and Positive Rights Misty and Other Employees Positive Right: ? Negative Right: Freedom of Speech Employer Positive Right: Put policies into place that deal with Social Media usage Negative Right: To make money To get rid of those in the company that do not help them accomplish making money

Negative and Positive Rights Misty’s Friends Negative Right: Freedom of Speech Facebook Positive Right: Impose their policy stating they are not responsible for things posted on Facebook that violate the law

Solutions 1. Misty cleans up her page and applies for another job Does next employer have right to know she had trouble with social media? 2. Employer should give Misty a chance to explain the context of the post before firing her. Offer a warning What would you do if you were the employer? 3. Misty lets it go and moves on with her life

We think… The best solution is Solution #2. Why? Employer won’t be viewed as being “overcautious” and Misty will have a chance to explain so she does not lose her job Utilitarianism View – overall happiness increases

Conclusion How technology has shifted jobs Telecommuting & Offshoring Employee Monitoring Case Study about Misty Roberson who was fired over a post on Facebook Discuss possible solutions

References: "ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. " Association for Computing Machinery. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Baase, Sara. A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2013. Print. "Fact Sheet 7: Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring. " Workplace Privacy and Employee Monitoring. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Apr. 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. Staff, AOL Jobs. "Misty Roberson: Fired For A Facebook Post About Her Sick Child? " AOL Jobs. N. p. , 8 Feb. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.