Wearable technology has been praised for its ability to transform the workplace, and it’s not going away anytime soon. The Human Cloud At Work study, led by researchers from the University of London, in 2014, found that wearable technology — like brain activity sensors and motion monitors — increased productivity in individuals by 8.5 percent, while their job satisfaction levels went up by 3.5 percent.
Companies are using wearables in the workplace for several reasons. And one big one is their desire to help employees better manage personal health to reduce the number of absences and to lower healthcare costs.
Wearables also boost employee productivity: Mobile apps keep workers better connected to the offices and co-workers and allow instant updates.
Collecting and analyzing wearable data from employees may sound a little like Big Brother, and there’s certainly a great deal of responsibility on the side of the employer to handle data appropriately. But, when done right, it has the potential to impact real change in the office. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using wearables at work:
