Perceived surveillance and technostress among older employees

Workplace digital surveillance is an ongoing situation in which employees’ performance and behaviour are observed, inspected, tracked and recorded digitally by their employers. Based on a sample of 569 employees aged 60 and over from six countries, this study explored whether older employees’ Perceived Employer Surveillance (PES) is associated with their reports of technostress (stress induced by technology use). Analysis indicated that 31.5 per cent of the sample thought their employers digitally monitored them. These individuals were similar to those who did not report PES in their background characteristics. However, their internet use was more intense, diverse and sophisticated. In addition, they reported more perceived surveillance by other agents, such as commercial companies and social institutions. The level of technostress among employees who reported PES was significantly higher than among those who did not. This difference resulted from disparities in the sense of invasion and privacy concerns. Greater technostress was associated with feeling monitored by the employer, the state and individuals such as family and friends. Yet, the PES–technostress association was significant among women only. The findings highlight a paradoxical situation in which, parallel to the tremendous effort invested in supporting older workers’ activity and health, employers’ surveillance potentially puts them, and women in particular, at risk of technostress that may decrease their productivity and harm their job satisfaction and well-being. Accordingly, using digital systems to surveil older employees should be thoroughly considered.