Many oppose workplace surveillance, because of the inherent dechumanizing effect it has and the relentless pressure it brings. But it's on the rise around the world as firms look to become more efficient by squeezing more productivity from their workers. More than half of companies with over $750 million in annual revenue used “non-traditional ” monitoring techniques on staff last year.
Monitoring employee performance gives firms the ability to assess how their staff are performing and interacting, which can be good for both the firm and employees themselves. a growing number of analytics companies offer this service. They gather “data exhaust ” left by employees ’ email and instant messaging apps, and use name badges equipped with radio-frequency identification devices and microphones. These can check how much time you spend talking. your volume and tone of voice, even if you do not dominate conversations. While this may sound intrusive, exponents argue that it can also protect employees against bullying and sexual harassment.
Some of this data analysis can produce unexpected results. For example, it was found that people who sat at 12-person lunch tables tended to interact, share ideas more and outperform those who regularly sat at four-person tables, a fact that would probably have gone undetected without such data analysis.
Over the last few years a Stockholm co-working space called Epicenter has gone much further and holds popular “chipping parties ”, where people can have microchips implanted in their hands. They can use the implants to access electronically- controlled doors, or monitor how typing speed correlates with heart rate. Implanted chips may seem extreme, but it is a relatively small step from ID cards and biometrics to such devices. As long as such schemes are voluntary, there will probably be a growing number of convenience-oriented uses so that a substantial number of workers would opt to have a chip inserted But if implanted chips are used to reduce slack time or rest breaks, that could prove to be detrimental. and if surveillance tools take away autonomy, that's when they prove most unpopular. a lot depends on how such monitoring initiatives are communicated and this could prevent possible revolts being staged.
If bosses don't communicate effectively, employees assume the worst. But if they're open about the information they're collecting and what they're doing with it, research suggests 46% of employees are generally okay with it. Although many such monitoring schemes use anonymised data and participation is voluntary, many staffers remain skeptical and fear an erosion of their civil liberties.
So workplace surveillance could be empowering for staff and useful for companies looking to become more efficient and profitable. But implemented in the wrong way, it could also become an unpopular tool of oppression that proves counterproductive.
Why are many people opposed to monitoring employee performance?（ ）
本题句意为：为什么很多人反对监控员工表现？
A项：给员工带来了持续的压力；
B项：它被普遍认为是反人类的；
C项：它对被监控的员工造成了精神和身体上的伤害；
D项：它使公司能够从员工身上榨取最大的生产力。
根据第一段“Many oppose workplace surveillance, because of the inherent dechumanizing effect it has and the relentless pressure it brings.”可知，许多人反对工作场所的监控，因为它具有固有的去人性化效果，并带来了无情的压力。
故正确答案为A。
What is the supporters' argument for workplace surveillance?（ ）
本题句意为：支持者对工作场所监控的论点是什么？
A项：它使员工能够避免主导谈话；
B项：它增强了员工对所在公司的认同感；
C项：它可以提醒员工注意侵犯他们的隐私；
D项：它可以保护员工免受攻击性行为的侵害。根据第二段“While this may sound intrusive, exponents argue that it can also protect employees against bullying and sexual harassment.”可知，虽然工作场所的监控可能有些侵扰，但支持者认为，这也可以保护员工免受欺凌和性骚扰。
故正确答案为D。
What does the author want to show by the example of different numbers of people interacting at lunch tables?（ ）
本题句意为：作者通过不同数量的人在餐桌上互动的例子来展示什么？
A项：数据分析是成功实施工作场所监控的关键；
B项：分析从员工那里收集的数据可能会产生意想不到的结果；
C项：更多的同事坐在午餐桌前，往往有助于互动和分享想法；
D项：如果不进行数据分析，很难决定有多少人坐在餐桌旁。
文章第三段首句“Some of this data analysis can produce unexpected results.”指出，一些数据分析可能会产生意想不到的结果。不同数量的人在餐桌上互动则是说明这一观点的例子。
故正确答案为B。
What does much of the positive effect of monitoring initiatives depend on?（ ）
本题句意为：监测举措的积极影响在很大程度上取决于什么？
A项：员工被监控的频率；
B项：哪些具体个人信息被排除在外；
C项：采取了哪些措施来尽量减少其不利影响；
D项：老板们如何清楚地表达他们监督的目的。
根据第四段最后“···depends on how such monitoring initiatives are communicated···”可知，取决于如何传达此类监测举措。第五段也进一步说明了如果老板不能有效沟通，员工就会做出最坏的打算。
故正确答案为D。
What concern do monitoring initiatives cause among many staffers?（ ）
本题句意为：监控举措在许多员工中引起了什么担忧？
A项：可能会过度授权雇主；
B项：可能会破坏工作环境；
C项：可能侵犯工作人员应有的自由；
D项：从长远来看，它们可能会适得其反。
根据第五段“Although many such monitoring schemes use anonymised data and participation is voluntary, many staffers remain skeptical and fear an erosion of their civil liberties.”可知，尽管许多此类监测计划使用匿名数据，参与是自愿的，但许多员工仍然持怀疑态度，担心他们的自由会受到侵犯。员工担忧的是监控会侵犯自己的自由。
故正确答案为C。