Workplace Freakonomics

I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, vol. 14, 2017

Saint Louis U. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2017-25

25 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2020 Last revised: 9 Oct 2020

See all articles by Matthew T. Bodie

Matthew T. Bodie

University of Minnesota Law School

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

Data analytics has revolutionized our economy, and employment is no exception. Sometimes called people analytics or HR analytics, the study of worker behavior and activity now includes the collection of massive amounts of data that is then crunched by algorithms looking for both expected and unexpected patterns. This work is akin to the "freakonomics" approach, which asks unusual questions and is prepared to find answers that may upset conventional wisdom. This paper explores the possibility of a "workplace freakonomics" approach to using big data in the workplace, and considers the legal and ethical ramifications for wide-ranging explorations of employee data.

Keywords: information privacy, employee privacy, freakonomics

JEL Classification: K31

Suggested Citation

Bodie, Matthew T., Workplace Freakonomics (2017). I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, vol. 14, 2017, Saint Louis U. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2017-25, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3641653

Matthew T. Bodie (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota Law School ( email )

United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
46
Abstract Views
380
PlumX Metrics