Chinese company requires employees to send pictures of battery status before leaving, using ‘smart cushions’ to track every move
The company is based in Wuhan, Hubei province and has not disclosed its identity. They asked the company’s employees to show them the remaining battery life of their phones before leaving work.
A post, which has been widely shared on Weibo, shows the company’s employees sending messages on WeChat, with screenshots of their battery life. In addition, they must send data showing the phone’s power consumption when using specific apps. According to the person who posted the screenshot, this policy has been opposed by employees, with some saying that company management violates privacy rights.
After employees questioned the policy, the company told them that performance had declined and that the purpose of the audit was “to promote efficiency and teamwork”. The company also added that leaders want employees not to use their phones to play games, watch videos or send personal messages at work.
A Chinese company requires employees to take screenshots of their phones before leaving work.
A lawyer from Guangzhou said that while screenshots can tell the company what employees do, it’s not clear if that information is subject to security and privacy laws. “At this point, we can’t judge it as a breach of employee privacy,” she said.
When SCMP contacted a state-backed hotline dedicated to legal advice, the representative said: “Employers have the right to monitor workers by means of contact In this case, it is reasonable for an employer to ask an employee to send a screen shot of remaining battery power. If they make a request after working hours, it is is a violation of privacy.”
Yang Wenzhan, a lawyer from the Beijing Zhongdun Law Office, told the 21st Century Business Herald: “If the company has informed workers about this trial plan and got their consent, then it will act. legal.”
One person commenting on this post on Weibo wrote: “From now on, every employee should have 2 phones.” Another said: “The company can’t afford to reform the business when it’s underperforming, but instead puts pressure on employees. What is the boss of this company doing?”
However, this is not the first time Chinese businesses have faced criticism when monitoring employees. Last year, Hebo Technology, a technology startup based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, tracked employee movements through chair cushions in offices. They use smart cushions so HR can check how long employees are away from their desks.
In 2019, e-commerce giant JD.com asked employees to provide the company with details about their relationships, such as information about family, friends or even co-workers. their class. At the time, Qiang Meng, vice president of the Beijing Academy of Civil Law Technology, said the move was excessive interference with employees’ personal information and a violation of their privacy.
Refer to SCMP
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