Research Article

Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance

Volume: 10 Number: 3 October 6, 2026
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Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance

Abstract

Workplace wearables are increasingly embedded in digital monitoring systems and digital labor surveillance that reshape how work is observed, evaluated, and managed. Although these technologies may support safety and worker well-being, they may also expand managerial control and create psychosocial risks concerning autonomy, privacy, trust, and fairness. This study examines how workplace wearables and monitoring are framed and how governance safeguards are reported. A scoping review identified the evidence base, while directed content analysis transformed 42 included reports into study-level units. Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and PubMed were searched between 27 February and 5 March 2026 for publications from 2015 to 2026. From 117 records, 70 full-text reports were assessed and 42 were included. Coding generated a six-cell framing–governance typology and a 10-item governance-reporting score. Hybrid framing with opaque governance was dominant (21/42; 50.0%), and 31 reports (73.8%) were opaque or unilateral. The mean score was 2.33 (SD=1.20), and no report scored above 5. Purpose statements were common, but access rules, retention and deletion, error handling, and grievance mechanisms were rarely reported. The typology and checklist support analysis of managerial control, worker autonomy, psychosocial risk management, and data governance.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Labor Sociology, Labor and Organisition Sociology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 6, 2026

Submission Date

July 13, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 3

APA
Çögenli, M. Z. (2026). Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance. Fiscaoeconomia, 10(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1993638
AMA
1.Çögenli MZ. Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance. FSECON. 2026;10(3):1-14. doi:10.25295/fsecon.1993638
Chicago
Çögenli, Mehmed Zahid. 2026. “Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance”. Fiscaoeconomia 10 (3): 1-14. https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1993638.
EndNote
Çögenli MZ (October 1, 2026) Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance. Fiscaoeconomia 10 3 1–14.
IEEE
[1]M. Z. Çögenli, “Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance”, FSECON, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1–14, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.25295/fsecon.1993638.
ISNAD
Çögenli, Mehmed Zahid. “Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance”. Fiscaoeconomia 10/3 (October 1, 2026): 1-14. https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1993638.
JAMA
1.Çögenli MZ. Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance. FSECON. 2026;10:1–14.
MLA
Çögenli, Mehmed Zahid. “Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance”. Fiscaoeconomia, vol. 10, no. 3, Oct. 2026, pp. 1-14, doi:10.25295/fsecon.1993638.
Vancouver
1.Mehmed Zahid Çögenli. Workplace Wearables and Digital Labor Surveillance: Managerial Control, Psychosocial Risk, and Data Governance. FSECON. 2026 Oct. 1;10(3):1-14. doi:10.25295/fsecon.1993638
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