Employees across Europe are ready to adopt wearable technology at work, according to new research by ADP, a leading global provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions. Workplace tools have evolved rapidly in recent years, and almost a fifth (18%) of employees report that they already have access to some form of wearable technology in the workplace.
The next wave of wearables – such as augmented reality headsets, biometric identification and holographic video conferencing tools – will create a wealth of opportunity for businesses to further improve productivity, connectivity and security.
Employees see the potential of wearable technology in improving their working lives in a number of ways:
- 33% would organise workload according to productive times of the day
- 33% would manage stress, for example, through monitoring caffeine intake or encouraging mindfulness
- 28% would like to be alerted to a drop in energy levels
- 28% would identify potential health risks to seek medical advice
Commenting on the findings, Annabel Jones, HR Director at ADP UK, said: “Wearables present a major opportunity for companies looking to boost productivity, efficiency and employee engagement. We can expect to see a number of new tools enter the workplace in the coming years, which will not only have the potential to create a fully connected workforce but also enhance learning and development practices.”
Despite the high interest in adopting wearables, more than half (52%) of employees say that they are concerned about the amount of personal data employers can access via wearable technology. However, attitudes towards privacy vary between countries. While as many as 60% of German employees express reservations, only 36% of Dutch employees feel this way. Overall, UK workers are the most hesitant to use wearables, with as many as one in five (20%) saying that they would not use wearables at all, compared to 10% in France, and 8% in Germany and the Netherlands.
Annabel Jones added: “Multinational companies that are planning to utilise wearable technology should be aware of the cultural differences and attitudes across Europe. Employers that successfully consider changes in attitudes and also develop a coherent and transparent framework for exposing data findings will improve employees working patterns.”
For further findings on ‘Workplace Technology Insight 2015: UK and European employees' perspective’, please visit the ADP website.
