Saskatoon, Canada: Looking Into GPS Monitoring Of City Staff

If certain officials have their way, Saskatoon city staff may soon be monitored by GPS devices while on the clock using the devices the city already provides, like cell phones, water meter tools, and radios. All that is stopping them currently: there is no policy in place regarding the use of GPS tracking.

Human resources consultant for the city Gordon Bothner sees the value in many possible uses, discussing them in a meeting with city officials in an executive committee meeting. “It could be time theft, where…there’s been some sort of indication where productivity hasn’t taken place.”

He also points to GPS technology as a way to keep employees safe, referencing a recent case where accusations of taking people on “starlight tours” were made against the Saskatoon City Police. Starlight tours are described as residents being taken to city outskirts by police and left there. These allegations were proven false thanks to data collected by GPS data gathered by the GPS tracking device installed in city cruisers.

Bothner also sees GPS technology pointing out inefficiencies by tracking the time it takes employees to complete a job. However, he knows that there needs to be a policy in place prior to implementation. “The crux of the policy is, if we’re going to use the monitoring capability…we need a policy to guide the use of that information.”

Councilor Martin Ring is wary of the technology. “It certainly brings to light ‘big brother’s watching us.” Councilor Rick Orr added, “Big brother is watching us, and it’s the taxpayer.”

Orr does see the value in GPS monitoring, especially with recent taxpayer request to look into inefficiencies. “We know that (city staff is) doing a heck of a good job…this just gives us a tool to let the taxpayer know what’s going on.”

Mayor Greg Dionne agrees, especially after recent allegations from the public of city employees taking longer than the allotted 15 minute break, vehicles parked outside of Tim Horton’s. He said using the GPS devices in this way is “a valid use of the equipment, and it’s just no different than a radar gun…No one ever fears a radar gun, unless you’re a speeder. And then, if you’re a speeder you’ve got to look out for a radar gun. It’s no different than GPS.”

So far, no one is against the idea. Bothner’s report states “They are fully aware of the purpose and contents of the proposed policy and no concerns have been expressed.”

 

Saskatoon, Canada: Looking Into GPS Monitoring Of City Staff