Surveillance Capitalism In The Workplace: Implications For Mental Health And Workers’ Autonomy
Edime YUNUSA
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State - Nigeria
Ejuchegahi A. Angwaomaodoko
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State - Nigeria
Keywords: Surveillance Capitalism, Workplace Monitoring, Mental Health, Worker Autonomy, Algorithmic Management
Abstract
The increasing integration of digital monitoring technologies into organizational systems has raised critical concerns about their implications for employee well-being and control, prompting this paper on Surveillance Capitalism in the Workplace: Implications for Mental Health and Workers’ Autonomy. The paper examined the extent to which workplace surveillance practices influence employees’ mental health outcomes, evaluates how surveillance-driven management systems affect worker autonomy, and investigates the relationship between surveillance practices and employees’ perceptions of privacy, trust, and organizational fairness. The paper was anchored on Labour Process Theory which explains how managerial control is embedded within technological systems to regulate labour. An analytical review approach was adopted, involving critical synthesis and evaluation of recent empirical and theoretical studies published between 2020 and 2026. The findings revealed that intensified workplace surveillance is associated with increased stress, anxiety, and burnout due to continuous monitoring and performance pressure. It further showed that algorithmic management systems significantly reduce worker autonomy by limiting discretion over tasks and decision-making processes. In addition, the paper established that surveillance practices negatively shape employees’ perceptions of privacy, trust, and fairness, particularly in contexts with weak regulatory protections. The paper concluded that while surveillance technologies may enhance efficiency, their unchecked use undermines worker well-being and organizational relations. It therefore recommended the adoption of transparent monitoring policies, integration of mental health support systems, and strengthening of regulatory frameworks to protect employees’ rights and autonomy.