A similar dynamic prevails in white-collar work, says Bernstein, where the surveillance that employees experience may be digital in nature. Professionals are less likely to play around with new ideas or approaches when they know that an all-seeing electronic eye is tracking their every keystroke. It’s not simply that staffers fear their bosses will think they’re goofing off or breaking the rules. Being subject to oversight at all times is a disempowering experience, and feeling powerless discourages exploration and creativity. Conversely, a number of studies have found that a sense of privacy
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