Australian workers are increasingly having their personal data collected by employers, including location information, emails and keystrokes, often with little privacy protection, according to new research and testimony from employees.
One employee at Commonwealth Bank, who asked to remain anonymous, said the bank's Navigate app requires location permissions to enter its offices. The employee, identified as Chris, said the bank has not fully explained how the data is used. A CBA spokesperson said Navigate is not used for tracking staff but to help employees connect and collaborate by showing laptop locations.
A study by University of Melbourne law professor Alysia Blackham, to be published in the Australian Journal of Labour Law, says the federal Privacy Act contains dramatic exceptions for the workplace. Small businesses are exempt, and an employee records exemption means once collected, worker data may have no protection, leaving workers without recourse if hacked, offshored or sold.
The consequences are already visible. An insurance worker lost her job after a keystroke review found low average activity, a dismissal upheld by the Fair Work Commission. Another worker, Kate, said constant monitoring adds to stress. In another case, a multinational used vehicle tracking devices to discipline staff, leading a worker to resign.
Last year, Guardian Australia reported that Virgin Australia accessed a flight attendant's hotel key swipe logs and CCTV, leading to his reinstatement after a Fair Work Commission ruling; Virgin's appeal failed.
