Employers in Quebec and the federal Department of Justice in Canada are installing sensors under work desks to monitor office occupancy [1].
This rollout highlights a growing tension between corporate efforts to optimize real estate and employee concerns over workplace surveillance in the hybrid-work era.
Divisions of Québecor in Quebec and Justice Department offices in Ottawa, Ontario, have deployed the technology to track which desks are occupied and how often [1, 2]. The goal is to better manage hybrid work arrangements and improve the utilization of available space [1, 3].
Reports on the hardware vary by organization. Some sources indicate that Québecor divisions are using heat sensors only [1], while others state that the Justice Department has deployed both heat and motion sensors [2, 4]. The rollout of these sensors at Justice Department offices began in 2023 [4].
Employees have expressed discomfort with the monitoring. "The new technology feels invasive," said one employee [1]. Another employee described the installation as "creepy," said the employee [2].
Labor representatives have raised concerns that the data collection could expand beyond simple space management. "We’re concerned these sensors could eventually be used to monitor attendance even when staff are working remotely," said a union representative [4].
Management maintains that the sensors are intended for space optimization rather than individual performance tracking. However, the presence of the hardware has created a perception of increased surveillance among the workforce [1, 2].
“"The new technology feels invasive."”
The use of occupancy sensors reflects a broader shift toward 'smart offices' as organizations struggle to balance flexible work policies with the cost of maintaining physical real estate. While the stated intent is logistical efficiency, the deployment of such hardware without explicit employee buy-in often triggers privacy concerns and trust deficits between management and staff.
