Tracking just what workers do at work is likely to prove a tricky task

Time is money. We all know that in a general sort of way, though, being Indians, we are almost at our natural, elemental best when sitting at the local watering hole, whiling away the time in chatter. Time, as the new Prime Minister sets about his ways, is also governance and implementation, what with a new regimen being set up for babus and the like under the new dispensation.

Given all that, the report in some papers about a software tracking people as they go about their workplace takes that time adage to new lengths. The report says it was found that people become more productive at work when they have more social interaction; so those water cooler-side or coffee machine-side breaks may actually help.

Then again, what better way for employers than this sort of software to find out just how much people are really working or spending their office time on. Imagine the consequences if that sort of tracking mechanism is set up everywhere. Quite a lot of people would probably be jaw-dropping shocked at what might be revealed about them. All that tweeting and Facebooking at work might turn out to not justify a pay packet.

Hence, there will be calls for protecting privacy. But, really, is time at work really metime ? Or is every form of privacy sacrosanct? Well, maybe a few FB/Twitter friends can clarify.…