How to Balance Privacy and (Health) Benefits: Privacy Calculus and the Intention to Use Health Tracking at the Workplace

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To address increasing pressures experienced in the workplace, the use of wearables as part of workplace health promotion programs is on the rise. Even though the benefits are well-known, participation rates are often low due to privacy-related issues. Therefore, this study illuminates the area of privacy further by investigating the influence of the wearable’s additional private use and limited data access on employees’ intended use. Based on technology acceptance and Privacy Calculus Theory, this study applied a factorial survey experiment to test several literature-driven hypotheses. While restricting data access to the employee has a positive impact on employees’ privacy concerns, perceived benefits, and intended use, the possibility of private use is only of secondary relevance for individuals’ privacy perceptions and intention to use. The results provide empirical evidence on how the design of digital workplace health promotion programs can increase conscious participation.