Outback Steakhouse employee performance tracking seen to raise privacy concerns
Outback Steakhouse faced criticism for implementing an automated employee performance tracking system at a franchise in Portland, Oregon, forcing it to terminate the technology. C alled Presto Vision , the computer vision technology uses existing surveillance infrastructure to analyse interactions between staff and customers, measuring metrics such as server attentiveness and food delivery times. The data collected aimed to provide managers with insights to improve operational efficiency and customer service. However, the system raised widespread concerns amongst employees regarding privacy and autonomy, with many workers saying they were not informed about how the system would affect their roles, resulting in fears about potential job insecurity and the implications of automated performance assessments on staffing decisions. Critics argue that such surveillance tools could lead to workforce reductions or altered schedules based on the data collected. T o address privacy concerns, t he Presto Vision system anonymised data and deleted footage within a short period. However, the broader trend of increasing surveillance in the restaurant industry, including similar technologies used by other chains, sparked a debate about the ethical balance between operational efficiency and employee rights. System 🤖 Presto Vision Documents 📃 Presto. Presto Launches Computer Vision Product for Real-Time Restaurant Operations Insights Developer: Presto Country: USA Sector: Travel/hospitality Purpose: Monitor employee performance; Improve customer service Technology: Computer vision; Machine learning Issue: Employment; Privacy/surveillance
- Date it happened
- 2020-01-01
- Organisation involved
- Evergreen Restaurant Group/Outback Steakhouse
- Product, system or model
- Presto Vision
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