What Logistics Managers need to be aware of!
Tracking devices or Apps are nothing new these days, and anyone that has a smart phone and uses various map apps is constantly satellite tracked.
Google and Facebook know you better than your Mum ever did.
Most companies routinely using them in their logistics assets.
Even small businesses like plumbers have them in their little white vans, so “Cheryl” the office manager can tell irate customers that “Bob the toilet unblocker” is on his way…only 4-8 hours away!
However one company in California had a “staff tracking app” installed on their work phones.
Nothing sinister about that….
There great for productivity, time management, personal security and a myriad other reasons.
However, the issue arose with a travelling female sale executive who was being tracked 24 hour’s a day.
The device had been set that it was unable to be turned off during non working or “private time”.
I mean who wants your boss to know that every Thursday night you attend “Knitters Anonymous” or involve yourself in over 50’s Morris dancing on Sunday mornings!
Anyhow… the female executive uninstalled the app due to “privacy” reasons and got herself fired for doing so.
This was after the boss boasted about the ability to know how fast she was driving down the highway.
So what’s happening now?
She is taking him to court for alleged unfair dismissal and invasion/breach of privacy to the sum of $500,000 USD.
That’s Scary.
The moral of the story, staff tracking apps, only for work time….and also, being very careful about employee/employer gender and power dynamics, and how they could be interpreted…
now where’s my phone…
Chris Richardson,
Chris Richardson works with Managers and Supervisors of Supply Chain Companies.
He provides people management training and mentoring to help leaders manage change, manage work stress and inspire creative problem solving in their teams.
The end result is that absenteeism is reduced, productivity increases, complaints minimised and WorkCover costs get slashed.
This frees up Managers to focus on the business of customer service and create new business opportunities.
Contact Chris on 613 99742824 or chris@productiveminds.com.au or visit www.productiveminds.com.au
