The increasing use of mobile apps to manage field workers is putting employees under growing pressure and exposing them to extensive surveillance, the Vienna Chamber of Labor (AK) warned Friday. In a statement, the AK cautioned against what it calls a “degradation of work” and called for stronger worker protections, including mandatory involvement of employee representatives when such systems are introduced.
The warning is based on a study commissioned by the AK and conducted by IT and data privacy expert Wolfie Christl. The report examines Microsoft’s “Dynamics 365 Field Service” software, along with similar tools offered by SAP, Salesforce, and Oracle. While the technologies are meant to streamline workflows and improve efficiency, the study finds they also open the door to constant data collection and algorithmic control, affecting nearly every part of employees’ workday.
Opaque algorithms raise concerns
“The study shows that, in the worst-case scenario, opaque digital monitoring systems end up dictating how work is done—without regard to the actual conditions on the ground,” Christl said in the statement. “For workers, these decisions often seem arbitrary, because it’s unclear what they’re based on.”
The AK is calling for stronger co-determination rights for employees and their representatives. Among its proposals: giving works councils the right to file complaints on behalf of employees with Austria’s data protection authority. The chamber is also pushing for more oversight of such systems and tighter regulation around the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
