Privacy in a Digitized Workplace: Towards an Understanding of Employee Privacy Concerns

When employees are required to work remotely, the digitization of the workplace becomes imperative to organizations. The introduction of digital workplaces leads to challenges and potentially negative consequences for employee privacy. Research did not yet shed light on the issue of employee privacy concerns. Therefore, the goal of this study is to evaluate the concept of privacy concerns in the context of the digitized workplace. Within the scope of this study, we conducted 33 semi-structured interviews with employees in order to gain insights into their Workplace Privacy Concerns (WPCs). Based on an iterative thematic analysis approach, we identified eight dimensions of WPCs: Six of these dimensions are adapted from the consumer context, two further dimensions represent concerns exclusive to the workplace context. This study serves as a starting point towards an understanding of WPCs and future research on the digitized workplace

How the introduction of the COVID-19 tracing apps affects future tracking technology adoption

Purpose Studies on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tracing apps have mostly focused on how to optimize adoption and continuous use, but did not consider potential long-term effects of their introduction. This study aims to analyse whether the characteristics of the recent introduction of tracing apps may negatively impact individuals' attitudes and intentions to adopt future tracking technology. Design/methodology/approach In an online experiment across three countries (Australia, Germany, UK), the authors measured how perceived benefits of COVID-19 tracing apps as well as specific government and campaign-related factors affect privacy concerns, attitude towards future tracking apps and intention to adopt. The authors manipulated the type of provider (governmental vs private) and the type of beneficiaries of the future tracking technology app (the individual alone or also the public) as determinants of adoption. Findings The authors find that privacy concerns towards the COVID-19 tracing apps negatively impact attitude and intention to adopt future tracking apps. Future adoption is more likely if the app is provided by the government, whereas additional benefits to the public do not positively stimulate adoption. Second, the study analyzed different factors, including perceptions on governments and the app introduction, as well as perceived benefits. Originality/value Taking the introduction of COVID-19 apps in different countries as a basis, the authors link both perceived benefits and contextual factors to privacy concerns, attitudes towards and intention to adopt the related technology in the future. The authors hereby clarify the responsibility of governmental actors who conduct large-scale technology introductions for the future diffusion of related technologies

A Synthesized Perspective on Privacy and Transparency in the Digital Workplace

The pandemic crisis has made the digitalization of workplaces imperative for many organizations. Besides reorganizing work, rapid advances in technologies also enhance organizational efficiency and enable remote work. Having to work completely digitally imposes unprecedented transparency on employees. A major consequence of the transparent workplace is the emergence of employees’ privacy concerns. Even though the concepts of transparency and privacy are closely related, there is a research gap regarding the relationship between the two. Based on a conceptual approach and a systematic literature review, we postulate a synthesis of transparency and privacy in the digital workplace, and outline directions for future research. We discuss what makes the relationship between the two constructs double-edged by introducing the privacy-transparency paradox. This study therefore adds to the literature on privacy and transparency in the digital workplace and forms the basis for further studies

What Makes Workplace Privacy Special? An Investigation of Determinants of Privacy Concerns in the Digital Workplace

Novel organizational requirements, together with concurrent advances in digital technologies, promote increasing digitalization in the workplace. The successful implementation of a digital workplace may however be challenged by employees’ information privacy concerns. While the existing literature explores the emergence and consequences of privacy concerns from a consumer perspective, we know little about privacy in a workplace context. This study examines why the digital workplace requires a specific focus on information privacy. Following a grounded theory methodology, we conducted 13 interviews with interdisciplinary privacy experts from research and practice who each offer a unique angle on the topic. We point out five core determinants and nine corresponding drivers for privacy concerns from an environmental, interpersonal, and personal dimension. Combined, these determinants are essential in making the case about what makes privacy in a technology-driven workplace special