What Are Best Practices for Ethical Use of Nanosensors for Worker Surveillance?

AMA J Ethics. 2019 Apr 1;21(4):E356-362. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2019.356.

Abstract

Many employers now offer workers wearable or implantable devices that can monitor their health, productivity, and wellness. Nanotechnology enables even more powerful and functional monitoring capacity for these devices. A history of workplace monitoring programs suggests that, despite nanosensors' potential benefits to employers and employees, they can only be successful and sustainable when a company's motivations for offering them are acceptable and transparent to workers. This article describes 5 best practices for motivating nano-enabled worker monitoring programs that are acceptable, effective, and ethical.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / ethics*
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / standards*
  • Nanomedicine / ethics*
  • Nanomedicine / standards*
  • Occupational Health / ethics*
  • Occupational Health / standards*
  • Workplace / standards*