Monday, November 08, 2010

Cyber chains of wage slavery

Employee timecards are gradually disappearing from the workplace. Many hospitals, schools and businesses are converting from punch cards for workers to biometric time clocks.
Biometric time clocks refer to computer-based systems that first capture some form of biometric data, such as iris scans, finger images and facial images. The computer system then extracts unique data points (i.e. fingerprint whirls and ridges) and formulates a biometric template used to verify and employee’s identity. Streamlining employee time and attendance information with biometric time clocks can certainly benefit employers – optimistic returns on investment can be achieved in months.

But what about working from home? Interestingly, the rise of telecommuting has added a new wrinkle in the biometric time clock debate. PerfectSoftware and other biometric companies have come out with GPS software for smart phones, IP address verification and biometric peripherals that can track workers even when they aren’t sitting in their cubicles.

http://news.discovery.com/tech/are-biometric-time-clocks-legal.html

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