--- title: "Wednesday Buzz: When Workplace Monitoring Goes Too Far" id: "31688" type: "post" slug: "wednesday-buzz-when-workplace-monitoring-goes-too-far" published_at: "2016-01-13T20:51:08+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:19:27+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/01/13/wednesday-buzz-when-workplace-monitoring-goes-too-far/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/01/13/wednesday-buzz-when-workplace-monitoring-goes-too-far.md" excerpt: "A British newspaper installed monitoring devices across its office, and the backlash has been swift. Plus: David Bowie's long-lost coffee campaign." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "monitoring" - "privacy" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Wednesday Buzz: When Workplace Monitoring Goes Too Far Offices everywhere are experimenting with new ways to [increase efficiency](http://associationsnow.com/2013/11/social-media-roundup-measuring-efficiency-is-more-than-just-a-number/) , especially [among their employees](http://associationsnow.com/2015/02/maintain-marathon-efficiency/) . But sometimes those efforts can go a step too far, as *The Daily Telegraph* discovered this week. [As reported by BuzzFeed‘s Jim Waterson (opens in a new tab)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/telegraph-workplace-sensors#.ntlYzMRYG) , employees discovered black boxes had been installed at their desks without any forewarning. Upon doing some research, employees determined that the boxes were from OccupEye, a company that trumpets its ability to let employers monitor employees’ movements. “Quite simply, if a space is used, your OccupEye sensors will record it and you are guaranteed to know about it,” [the company’s site declares (opens in a new tab)](http://www.occupeye.com/how-it-works/) . The *Telegraph* [said in an internal email (opens in a new tab)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/telegraph-workplace-sensors) the devices were installed in an effort to “make ​our floors in ​the building as energy efficient as possible.” But the backlash was too strong, and the paper swiftly announced in another email that the devices would be removed “immediately.” OccupEye issued a statement after the news broke, telling client employees that “they have nothing to fear from our system.” Even if the *Telegraph*‘s focus was on energy efficiency, and not on executing a *1984*-esque monitoring campaign, the way the newspapers conducted its plan backfired. As workplace psychologist Eve Ash [told Sydney Morning Herald editor Cara Waters (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-tech/outrage-sparked-by-daily-telegraph-use-of-employeetracking-devices-20160111-gm3usb.html) , “This was amazing, and to do it with no discussion whatsoever was unbelievable. We already have workplaces where trust is so susceptible to being damaged and this is like a giant sword through that trust.” ### Throwback of the Day **The late, great David Bowie was more than a musician.** Any fan of [Labyrinth (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRcOZZDvMv4) knows that. But beyond his acting career and [ahead-of-their-time internet pursuits (opens in a new tab)](http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/11/david-bowie-bowienet-isp-internet) , Bowie also made an appearance in a 1984 ad campaign by the National Coffee Association. [As Night Flight contributor Bryan Thomas reports (opens in a new tab)](http://nightflight.com/tip-a-little-out-of-your-cup-tomorrow-morning-for-david-bowie-fellow-coffee-achievers/) , the ad was used during a time when the coffee industry was concerned about a decline in consumption among young adults. (Clearly the campaign worked.) ### Other Good Reads **Is it possible to succeed without owning a cellphone?** For one Silicon Valley startup CEO, the answer is yes, though, [as he writes in this story for The Guardian (opens in a new tab)](http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/11/steve-hilton-silicon-valley-no-cellphone-technology-apps-uber) , the lifestyle definitely isn’t for everyone. **We can talk nonstop about the importance of engaging millennials,** but [nonprofit expert Colleen Dilenschneider has some hard data (opens in a new tab)](http://colleendilen.com/2016/01/13/real-talk-why-cultural-organizations-must-better-engage-millennials-data/) on why cultural organizations need to try even harder to appeal to the younger generation. **Membership expert Amanda Kaiser presents an interesting question** in [her latest blog post (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2016/01/13/members-need-assoiation-help-when-they-face-change-or-start-something-new/?platform=hootsuite) : Is your association helping members with their personal professional challenges? (BeeBright/ThinkStock) [Morgan Little](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Morgan Little is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#monitoring](https://associationsnow.com/tag/monitoring/) [#privacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/privacy/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [TemplateMembers onlyADSC Executive Limitations PoliciesAugust 31, 2008](https://associationsnow.com/2008/08/31/adsc-executive-limitations-policies/) - [TemplateMembers onlyDatabase AdministratorApril 4, 2006](https://associationsnow.com/2006/04/04/database-administrator/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F01%2F13%2Fwednesday-buzz-when-workplace-monitoring-goes-too-far%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !