Neurodata-based headsets for the (digital) employee well-being – responsibilities between benefit and harm

Silvia Traunwieser

International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 2024, vol. 41, issue 1, 64-87

Abstract: Purpose - This study aims to demonstrate the importance of recognizing stress in the workplace. Accurate novel objective methods that use electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brainwaves can promote employee well-being. However, using these devices can be positive and potentially harmful as manipulative practices undermine autonomy. Design/methodology/approach - Emphasis is placed on business ethics as it relates to the ethics of action in terms of positive and negative responsibility, autonomous decision-making and self-determined work through a literature review. The concept of relational autonomy provides an orientation toward heteronomous employment relationships. Findings - First, using digital devices to recognize stress and promote health can be a positive outcome, expanding the definition of digital well-being as opposed to dependency, non-use or reduction. Second, the transfer of socio-relational autonomy, according to Oshana, enables criteria for self-determined work in heteronomous employment relationships. Finally, the deployment and use of such EEG-based devices for stress detection can lead to coercion and manipulation, not only in interpersonal relationships, but also directly and more subtly through the technology itself, interfering with self-determined work. Originality/value - Stress at work and EEG-based devices measuring stress have been discussed in numerous articles. This paper is one of the first to explore ethical considerations using these brain–computer interfaces from an employee perspective.

Keywords: Workplace stress detection; Digital well-being; Brain–computer interfaces; EEG; Autonomous decision; Self-determined work; Manipulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijoesp:ijoes-02-2024-0044

DOI: 10.1108/IJOES-02-2024-0044

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