THE INVISIBLE WORKFORCE: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF AI-DRIVEN EMPLOYEE MONITORING ON WORKPLACE TRUST AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION

AI-driven employee monitoring is becoming an important feature of digital workplaces. It can support operational coordination, safety, security and performance feedback, but it can also create concerns about privacy, autonomy, fairness and managerial control. These concerns matter because workplace trust is built through transparency, respect, consistency and accountability. When employees believe that monitoring is excessive, unexplained or unfair, their confidence in the organization may weaken and their willingness to remain may be affected. The impact of monitoring on retention is not automatic. It depends on the purpose and design of the system, the quality of communication, the fairness of its use and the wider employment environment. Organisations should therefore adopt a responsible and human-centered approach that combines data minimization, clear policies, employee participation, human oversight and effective review mechanisms. Technology should assist management, not replace fair judgement or undermine the dignity of employees. Sustainable adoption of AI in human resource management requires a balance between organizational efficiency and the trust of the people whose work is being monitored.

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