36% Believe Wearables Enhance Workplace Productivity

Office Genie, an office search engine organisation, surveyed 1000 UK employees and found that 36% of employee respondents cite increased productivity as a benefit of using wearable technology in the workplace. This survey also found that 42% of respondents believe that stress monitoring is an appropriate use for wearable technology in the workplace.

Head of strategy at Office Genie, Peter Ames, said: “If employers are planning to introduce workplace wearables, these concerns have to be considered. First and foremost, employees need to be clear as to the legitimate reasons behind their introduction. Creating a document informing staff of the data sets that will be employer-accessible can help reduce fears of snooping bosses. These concerns aside, workplace wearables have been linked to improved productivity and job satisfaction, as well as health benefits. So it definitely isn’t worth writing them off, particularly with the majority of employees in favour of them.”

Other survey findings include:

  • 41% feel supporting employees’ physical health would be an appropriate use for workplace wearables.
  • 43% of respondents cite employee wellness as a benefit of using wearable technology in the workplace, and 41% cite health benefits.
  • 51% of respondents believe wearable technology is beneficial in the workplace
  • 33% of respondents would prefer to use employer-provided wearable technology for professional use only, and 21% would use it for both professional and personal purposes.

On the downside:

  • 49% are worried about the negative effect wearable technology could have on employees’ stress levels
  • 58% are concerned that their employer could look at data recorded by the devices outside of the workplace
  • 67% worry that the use of wearable technology in the workplace could result in a big-brother-style surveillance culture
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