Did you take an hour to make a coffee bean in the staff way this morning ? Did you go out for a leisurely lunch and beer this afternoon ? A   little while of technology could be give away on you .

The Orwellian - sounding “ OccupEye ” and “ Enlighted ” system are detector technologies   that can be placed in many spaces , including under an employee ’s   desk to   monitor how often they are there . The sensor can also be used to locateavailable workspaces and meeting room , while also managing   light levels to make unnecessary companies costs .

Last year , there were reportsof numerous society using these electronic devices to keep lozenge on their employee . diarist at the British newspaper publisher The Daily Telegraphfound them under their deskand kicked up an tumultuousness , which promptly watch the boxes vanish overnight .

However , anew account by Bloombergsays these sensor are still present in many workplaces , often unbeknownst to employee . They estimate that up to 15 percent ofFortune 500 companiesuse them in their work .

“ Most people , when they walk into buildings , do n’t even notice them , ” Joe Costello , chief executive police officer of Enlighted , told Bloomberg . He added that they could be obscure anywhere , from under the desk , to in light source , to   even ID badge .

The systems are sell   on the premise that it helps “ optimize ” office space . The sensors   pick up data on when people are at their desk and can take when certain areas of space will be empty . Once fed into the extensive “ cyberspace of things ” of the workplace , it can see to it the ship’s company is n’t wasting money by using lights , heating , or gentle wind - con on empty desk . This alone has the potential to cut an office ’s DOE bill by 25 percent .

They can also gather up selective information on how employees behave , such as how often they get up and let the cat out of the bag to other employees . This data can then be used to redesign spaces to aid stave communicate more efficiently .

They ’re surely a fresh piece of tech for bad employer hop to watch their wallets . However , like many piece of technology in the ever more connected Earth , the pay - off is your privacy .