Real-time Employee Monitoring Technologies in the Construction Sector – Effect, Readiness and Theoretical Perspectives: The case of New Zealand

Abstract

Varieties of Real-time Employee monitoring Technology (REMT) are becoming popular and have aroused significant interest in recent years from the construction sector, where the industry explores the use of advanced monitoring technologies to reduce unsafe work behaviours and improve productivity. However, studies identified some concerns about applying these monitoring technologies at construction sites. Consequently, REMT devices and applications have not been well-received for tracking frontline workers. Lack of understanding of REMT, monitoring data protection and privacy management strategy set a barrier for the monitoring technologies to implement in the construction industry. Privacy has become a critical issue for the future digital construction site. This study adopts the literature review and a questionnaire survey, examined the readiness, summarised effects of REMT applied at the New Zealand construction sites, identified the influence factors, and discovered the theories that will potentially explain the factors and address the potential impact. Communication Privacy Management theory (CPM), Equity Theory (ET) and Control Theory of Privacy (CTP) are reviewed, and a theoretical framework is built upon REMT adoption in the construction sector. In conclusion, future studies are recommended for the international construction entities to get ready to adopt the real-time monitoring tools.