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Introduction to Business 2e

Ethics Activity

Introduction to Business 2eEthics Activity

Ethics Activity

Tracking employee information through global positioning systems (GPS)—in particular, on company vehicles driven by employees—is becoming commonplace. Location information is transmitted to a server via the cell phone network (and sometimes via satellite phone service) and is then available to the company through the web or mobile apps.

As the cost of GPS drops and the number of mobile workers rises—by some accounts, to as much as 60 percent of the global workforce—companies are depending on GPS to monitor the movement of personnel and products to improve customer service and help with time management. “I wanted to see how much time was spent on each job,” says one small business owner with a fleet of seven service vehicles. “We’ve had a few problems in the past—people weren’t where they said they’d be. With GPS, we can defend ourselves to the customers. We know how fast the drivers drove, what route they took, and how long they spent on each job.” GPS data can also be used for monitoring field employees who have positions that are not tied to working in an office. Additionally, for employees utilizing company vehicles, GPS tracking can ensure that company assets are being used appropriately.

Companies are not only tracking vehicles, but many now track employees through their mobile phones. Understandably, many employees don’t like the idea of their employer following their every move. Many employees take their company vehicles home after their shifts, but even employees with company-owned phones may be tracked after hours, too.

Surveys show that many GPS-tracked employees have serious concerns about after-hours tracking, micromanagement, and privacy. Courts continue to uphold monitoring and tracking efforts of employers for their employees during their work hours. In general, there is no expectation of privacy, and monitoring is permissible as long as the company "presents a legitimate business reason" for doing so.

Using a web search tool, locate articles about this topic, and then write responses to the following questions. Be sure to support your arguments and cite your sources.

Ethical Dilemma: Do GPS devices constitute an invasion of employee privacy? Are there guidelines companies can develop for appropriate GPS use?

Sources: Kaveh Waddell, “Why Bosses Can Track Their Employees 24/7,” The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com, January 6, 2017; Andrew Burger, “IDC: Mobile Workers Will Make Up Nearly 75 Percent of U.S. Workforce,” https://www.telecompetitor.com, June 23, 2015; "Mobile Workforce Trends," ServicePower, https://www.servicepower.com, October 14, 2024; Max Freedman, "Spying on Your Employees? Better Understand the Law First," Business News Daily, https://www.businessnewsdaily.com, January 5, 2026.

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