ARTICLE · 11 OCTOBER 2020

Privacy and discrimination concerns with online meetings

People + Culture Strategies

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Employees working remotely may feel they are more exposed to harassment and possibly discrimination in their employment.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Kate Staude

The way we communicate with our colleagues, customers and suppliers has changed. COVID-19 and the subsequent move en masse to working from home has triggered a sharp increase in the use of the online meeting and with it comes heightened privacy and discrimination concerns.

Increased intimacy

Employees are working from their kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms and we are all getting to see much “more” of our colleagues. This increased intimacy may have implications for future employee disputes as privacy and discrimination concerns mount. We have all seen the funny clips of children, pets and half-clothed partners interrupting an online work meeting. The reality is that most employees are having to adjust to inviting their colleagues and managers into their home and their living arrangements.

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