A Q&A with labour lawyer Howard Levitt about the rise of digital monitoring and the future of remote work
When remote work eclipsed office culture during the pandemic, employers were left wondering whether the people on their payroll were, in fact, working. Some turned to a sneaky solution: installing “tattleware,” or surveillance software, on employees’ devices to track their productivity and online activity. Since bosses had no obligation to inform employees that they were being watched, many workers remained oblivious to this monitoring. Now, a new law prevents employers from keeping their staff in the dark. As of October 11, Ontario companies with 25 or more employees must disclose their electronic monitoring policies in writing. Howard Levitt, a senior partner at the employment and labour law firm Levitt Sheikh, explains how the change will affect the future of work.
What exactly does this law mean for employers and employees?
It requires employers to disclose their digital surveillance to their employees. It doesn’t prohibit surveillance or limit it—it simply says they have to disclose it. Employers who were surreptitiously monitoring people’s keystrokes and internet use or tracking what websites their employees were visiting can no longer do so in secret. This way, employees can decide whether they’re comfortable with the ways they’re being surveilled and whether they want to keep working for that company. The law should also help employees make informed and...
Did the second Trump administration reverse a 30-year decline in lifespan in the U.S.? False Claim of the Week: Israeli and Indian Officials Held a Secret Meeting to Orchestrate the FlyDubai Pilot-...