research-article

Safe return to the workplace: Perceived opportunities and threats in the use of health surveillance technologies in public administrations

Authors:

Stefan Stepanovic,

Tobias MettlerAuthors Info & Claims

dg.o '22: Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

Pages 328 - 335

https://doi.org/10.1145/3543434.3543435

Published: 14 September 2022 Publication History

dg.o '22: Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

Safe return to the workplace: Perceived opportunities and threats in the use of health surveillance technologies in public administrations

Pages 328 - 335

Abstract
References

Abstract

The digitalization in public administrations has seen, through the COVID-19 pandemic, the appearance of health surveillance technologies at the workplace. Wearable health devices, such as physiolytics, may then have an increasing role in the management of public agents. Still, little is known about the use of these systems in work settings, as research is mainly oriented towards ethical debates or legal considerations. Accordingly, we propose to consider a concrete case of implementation of physiolytics in a Swiss public administration. We particularly investigate employees’ use rates as well as the perceived opportunities and threats that are linked to physiolytics and health surveillance technologies. This is done through an action design research perspective, where we search to extract from the field guidelines and knowledge for practitioners. We especially highlight that physiolytics’ use steadily decline after the first weeks, due to the design of such devices, the fear of surveillance, and the impression of competition that these systems bring into the workplace. It is therefore vital for public managers to introduce interventions, such as regular feedback, gamification, or nudging to support the engagement of public agents and ensure the viability of such novel health initiatives.

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Cited By

Capulli EDruda YPalmese FButt ADomenicali MMacchiarelli ASilvani ABedogni GIngravallo F(2025)Ethical and Legal Implications of Health Monitoring Wearable Devices: A Scoping ReviewSocial Science & Medicine10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117685(117685)Online publication date: Jan-2025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117685

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dg.o '22: Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

June 2022

499 pages

ISBN:9781450397490

DOI:10.1145/3543434

Copyright © 2022 ACM.

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Published: 14 September 2022

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dg.o 2022

dg.o 2022: The 23st Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

June 15 - 17, 2022

Virtual Event, Republic of Korea

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Cited By

Capulli EDruda YPalmese FButt ADomenicali MMacchiarelli ASilvani ABedogni GIngravallo F(2025)Ethical and Legal Implications of Health Monitoring Wearable Devices: A Scoping ReviewSocial Science & Medicine10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117685(117685)Online publication date: Jan-2025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117685

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