What an “Always-on system” can mean in a workplace context

What counts as an always-on system?

• Chatbots and virtual assistants that can answer customer or employee questions any time of day.
• Automated monitoring tools that track performance, system status, or security risks around the clock.
• Email, messaging, and cloud platforms that are always connected and syncing.
• AI tools that sort applications, flag risks, or process data automatically whenever new information comes in.
• Security systems such as log-in monitoring, CCTV analytics, or cyber-threat detection.

Why employers use them

• They reduce downtime and keep services available outside normal working hours.
• They automate routine tasks like routing enquiries or processing forms.
• They provide rapid responses to customers or staff.

What this means for workers

The system is always on, but you don’t have to be.

One of the main concerns for members is that “always-on” technology can lead to expectations of always-on workers. That’s why the Workers of England Union push for clear rules on:

• Working hours and right-to-disconnect
• How monitoring data can and can’t be used
• When humans, not machines, should make decisions
• Ensuring tech supports jobs rather than intensifies them

In Summary

An always-on system is like the workplace equivalent of a smoke alarm: it is running all the time so you don’t have to. Problems arise only when employers use that constant availability to pressure staff to be permanently reachable.

With good agreements and clear boundaries, these systems can actually reduce stress rather than increase it, but we need to be vigilant that they are not misused.