1. Ethical Decision Making: Technology and Privacy in the Workplace
Prepared by:
ANNALYN G. PEA

2. Psychological testing at Dayton Hudson
Answer each of the following questions True or False:
I feel sure there is only one true religion.
My soul sometimes leaves my body.
I believe in the second coming of Christ.
I wish I were not bothered by thoughts about sex.
I am very strongly attracted by members of my own sex.
I have never indulged in any unusual sex practices
3. Definitions of Privacy
Right to be let alone-the right to make decisions for oneself
Much too broad to be recognized as a moral right
Right to control information about oneself
Clearest case of an invasion of privacy occurs when others come to know personal information about us
Informational sense of privacy involves relationship between two parties
4. Importance of Privacy
Privacy establishes the boundary between individuals and thereby defines ones individuality
The right to control certain extremely personal decisions and information helps determine the kind of person we are and the person we become
5. Ethical sources of Privacy
Universal right to Autonomy-everyindividual has a right to make decisions abouthis/her personal existence without restriction
Reciprocal obligationfor an individual to expect respect for his/her autonomy, that individual has a reciprocal obligation to respect the autonomy of others
6. Ethical sources of Privacy (Cont)
Hypernorms and moral free space (Donaldson & Dunfee)
Examples of hypernorms-freedom of speech, right to personal freedom, right to physical movement and informed consent
Property Rights- Involves determination of who controls the tangibles and intangibles
Property-is an individuals life and all nonprocreative derivatives of her/his life
Derivatives-includes thoughts and ideas, and personal info (intangibles)
7. Linking Privacy to Ethical Implications of Technology
Technological challenge to privacy:
Technology makes our jobs easier but allows employers to ask more of each employee
New technology provides new ways to gather information on which to base our value judgment
Firms often experience unanticipated challenges stemming from new technology
8. Linking Privacy to Ethical Implications of Technology (Cont)
INFORMATION AND PRIVACY
Consumer Privacy- focused on gathering and use of information in database marketing
Facilitated by computer technology
Issues on consumer privacy- access to information and potential misuse
Benefits outweigh the challenges
9. EMPLOYEE PRIVACY AND MONITORING
Employee Privacy
Psychological testing-not 100% accurate
Employee Privacy is violated whenever:
Employers infringe upon personal decisions that are irrelevant to the employment contract
Whenever personal information that is irrelevant to that contract is collected, stored, or used without the informed consent of the employee
10. EMPLOYEE PRIVACY AND MONITORING (Cont)
Workplace Monitoring-new technologies enable employers to watch more closely than ever before.
Subjects for monitoring: Internet monitoring, e-mail monitoring and videotaping
Companies are forced to increase monitoring of employees (for more complex and dangerous manufacturing process)
11. EMPLOYEE PRIVACY AND MONITORING (Cont)
Employee Monitoring through drug testing
Wellness programs and medical benefits-results in the collection of medical data
The issue: Employers threaten employees to dissuade them from pressing a suit
12. Risks involved in a failure to understand the implication of technology and its use
When we dont completely understand the technology, we are not able to effectively protect our own information
Knowledge gap exists between people whodo understand and others who do not understand
13. Additional Ethical Challenges
Information is now freely available from a variety of sources
Continuous accessibility blurs the lines between our personal and professional lives
Facelessness results from the use of the new technology accessible in the workplace
We become more careless with our communications
14. REASONS WHY EMPLOYERS MONITOR EMPLOYEES WORK
Employers need to manage their workplace
Monitoring allows the manager to ensure effective, productive performance
Monitoring helps protect employers other resources
15. BUSINESS REASONS TO LIMIT MONITORING
Monitoring may create a suspicious and hostile workplace.
Monitoring may constrain effective performance
Employees claim that monitoring is an inherent invasion of privacy
16. Balancing Interests
Consider whether monitoring could be made ethical or humane
Hawthorne Effect
Strive towards a balance that respects individual dignity while also holding individuals accountable for their particular roles in the organization
17. Elements of a Monitoring Program
No monitoring in public areas (e.g. restrooms)
Monitoring limited to within the workplace
Employees should have access to information gathered through monitoring
No secret monitoring advance notice required
18. Elements of a Monitoring Program (Cont)
Monitoring should only result in attaining some business interest
Employer may only collect job-related information
Agreement regarding disclosure of information gained through monitoring
Prohibition of discrimination by employers based on off-work activities
19. OTHER FORMS OF MONITORING
Polygraph testing (lie-detector), physical and electronic surveillance, third party background checks, and psychological testing
Electronic monitoring and surveillancemore recent
Genetic testing and screeningprovide new questions about privacyanother technology that will offer businesses a wealth of information about potential employee and customers
20. Conclusion:
Without question, the technologies that threaten privacy have brought us many benefits. Finding the right means is a great challenge to business firms which must meet many business ethics problems, protecting privacy requires a coordinated solution involving many parties. Until a solution is found, though, the focus of businesses will remain on developing and implementing privacy policies.
21. Computer Privacy
22. The End!