OTTRS Speaker Series: Consequences of workplace surveillance: An example from police body-worn cameras

Abstract:
An emerging science on the psychology of surveillance has shown that effects vary widely; in some cases, surveillance increases stress, or harms performance, while in other cases it can protect vulnerable workers and aid in safety and productivity. Much of the variance in these effects can be attributed to the way surveillance is implemented: what is monitored, by who, and for what purpose. In this talk I will explore these ideas using the context of police officers who wear cameras while on duty. In 40 departments consisting of over 800 officers, we find that cameras have different effects on officers depending on these contextual factors. I will discuss policy and organizational implications of the findings.

Bio:
Tara Behrend is the John R Butler II Professor of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University, and Director of the MSU Future of Work Initiative. She is an organizational psychologist whose work focuses on the psychological effects of emerging workplace technologies, including topics such as digital surveillance, virtual reality for training, and AI feedback. She is Past-President of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and serves on the National Academies Board on Human-Systems Integration.