Remote work models are increasingly more common in the modern workplace, as is the prevalence of workplace surveillance tools. This paper examines the impact of the emerging trend of AI-driven monitoring systems and their impact on remote workers. While these data-driven tools employ algorithms to study workers’ behaviors as a means of boosting productivity and enhance worker engagement, they raise significant concerns about employee mental health, privacy, and job satisfaction. Continuous surveillance has been associated with increased stress and reduced autonomy, negatively impacting well-being. Additionally, the ethical implications of AI monitoring, including transparency and data privacy, are still underexplored. This study investigated issues related to the effects of AI monitoring in remote work settings using a mix of both primary and secondary data. This research aimed to identify current legal protections and recommended frameworks for AI governance. It determined current gaps in legal protections, both locally and globally. This was accompanied by primary research provided by interviewing qualified remote workers. Utilizing this mixed methodology, this research was able to devise an ethical framework for governance of AI-powered workplace surveillance tools with suggestions of actionable items.
Essay submission was sponsored by Dr. Caesar Jude Clemente, (Commerce and Business Administration Department) and was presented at the New Westminster campus on April 10, 2025, for Student Research Days 2025.
