Managing electronic communications: a new challenge for human resource managers

Advances in information and communication technology are not only changing the way work is conducted but also influencing the development of human resource management (HRM) as a field of practice. In order to understand how HR managers are grappling with this issue we review the misuse of electronic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of human resource management 2014-09, Vol.25 (16), p.2234-2252
Main Authors: Van Gramberg, Bernadine, Teicher, Julian, O'Rourke, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communication
Communications technology
Control
Economic analysis
Electronics
employee dismissal
employee Internet use policies
employee surveillance
Human resource management
Human resources
Information technology
Management styles
Managers
Personnel management
Studies
Technological change
workplace privacy
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Summary:Advances in information and communication technology are not only changing the way work is conducted but also influencing the development of human resource management (HRM) as a field of practice. In order to understand how HR managers are grappling with this issue we review the misuse of electronic communication in the workplace through the international literature and also recent court and tribunal cases in Australia. In particular, we consider the impact of new communication technologies in blurring of the boundaries between home and work and the way in which this is being dealt with by HR managers. In this paper we draw out the challenge of balancing the interests of employees and organisations, and outline the tension between HR as a strategic partner and employee champion. While not advancing a dystopian view, we argue that in many workplaces new surveillance technologies are being routinely utilised to increase employer control and that such low-trust practices are likely to be counterproductive and may undermine the profession of human resources management.
ISSN:0958-5192
1466-4399
DOI:10.1080/09585192.2013.872166