CIPD sacks software management plans

Tue 22 Jan 2008

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has responded strongly to news of Microsoft's plans to develop software which monitors employees.

Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser, said good employers take the wellbeing of their employees seriously and computers could never replace skilled managers.

In his opinion, the introduction of such devices would be bad news for the workplace and employees would be "less likely to be motivated and committed," and "more likely to suffer from stress".

It has been reported the software will remotely measure body temperature, heart rate, movement, facial expression and blood pressure, something Mr Willmott was clearly unhappy with.

"Our research into employee engagement shows that where individuals feel they are under excessive monitoring or surveillance they tend to have a negative attitude towards their employers," he advised.

Most jobs offer promotion and managerial opportunities and good employers have structured training schemes which help their staff improve professional skills.