VR as a” Drop-In” Well-being Tool for Knowledge Workers

The IEEE article “Ethical Considerations of Extended Reality in the Workplace” examines how the adoption of extended reality (XR) technologies — including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality — in workplace settings raises a range of ethical issues that go beyond technical and productivity questions. Drawing on a review of existing research, the authors identify key concerns such as privacy and surveillance, fairness and accessibility, psychological safety, and accountability in the deployment of immersive systems in professional environments. They map these issues using ethical frameworks (like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework), highlighting risks such as biometric monitoring, data misuse, opaque algorithmic decisions, and limited real-world assessments of XR impacts. The study emphasizes the urgent need for transparent policies, ethical design practices, inclusive accessibility, and governance mechanisms to ensure that XR technologies enhance work without compromising individual rights or exacerbating inequalities. Read it here.