Data monitoring and profiling using employees’ personal data could help employers to improve staff wellbeing and boost motivation levels, according to reseatch by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).
Its The future of work: A journey to 2022 report, which surveyed 10,000 employees and 500 HR professionals globally, found that nearly a third of respondents (30%) would be happy for their employer to have access to personal data such as social media profiles
The report found that employers could use such data to understand what motivates their workforce, as well as the reasons why staff move jobs.
More than half (56%) of HR professionals are already preparing for this shift, while a further quarter (25%) said they were already prepared.
In addition, more than a third (36%) of HR professionals are building their talent strategies around their organisations’ social and environmental conscience, which matches the brand of the organisation, as well as the values and briefs of employees.
Anthony Bruce (pictured), HR workforce analytics leader at PWC, said: “Just as advertisers and retailers are using data from customers’ online and social media activity to tailor their shopping experience, organisations could soon start using workers’ personal data (with their permission) to measure and anticipate performance and retention issues.
“This sort of data profiling could also extend to real-time monitoring of employees’ health, with proactive health guidance to help reduce sick leave.
“Key to the success of organisations being able to use employee data will be developing measurable benefits for those who hand over their data and building trust through clear rules about how data is acquired, used and shared.
“Our research reveals that employees are more open to sharing their personal data than previously thought. The millennial generation of workers are particularly happy to share their data meaning this kind of data monitoring by organisations could become routine in the years to come.
“HR teams are already gearing up for these changes and are increasingly using data analytics to spot retention and performance issues.
“The main challenge for organisations will be convincing employees that the price of handing over their data and monitoring is one worth paying.”
