What if your employer asked you to implant a microchip under your skin to help them keep track of you?

Three Square Market took that step, and made headlines last summer amid debate concerning invasions of privacy. It was the first company in the U.S. to offer to microchip its workforce — on a strictly voluntary basis, according to media reports. 

Three Square Market President Patrick McMullan will share the experience at the upcoming 2017 Human Resources Technology Exchange in Dallas, which will take place Dec. 10-12.

“The international marketplace is wide open, and we believe that the future trajectory of total market share is going to be driven by whoever captures this arena first.”

Patrick McMullan

The Wisconsin-based provider of self-service breakroom vending machines had a “chip party” in July, during which 50 out of the company’s 85 employees agreed to trade in their employee IDs and passwords for a chip to be inserted in between their forefinger and thumb. The chipped employees can enter the building, sign into their computers, and pay for snacks, all with just a wave of the hand. 

The decision to chip was driven by an aim to get ahead of the growing wearable technology trend, according to a release. By 2020, 75 million devices are predicted to be voluntarily in use. 

“The international marketplace is wide open, and we believe that the future trajectory of total market share is going to be driven by whoever captures this arena first,” McMullan said in a BBC article from last summer.

MCMULLAN WILL SPEAK ABOUT MICROCHIPS’ IMPACT ON PRODUCTIVITY, ADDRESS PRIVACY CONCERNS

During a session entitled “Workplace Wearables and Microchipping: What’s in it for Employees and Employers?” McMullan will talk in Dallas about how chipping employees has impacted workplace productivity, while also addressing concerns about privacy and GPS tracking.

Also on tap will be the benefits and challenges of chipping. McMullan is a firm believer that the microchip technology carries the potential to be used as a passport, a transit pass, and an ultra-secure way to pay for purchases, according to a release.

The Human Resources Technology Exchange is an invitation-only event during which HR executives will gather to learn how some of the world’s largest companies are leveraging technology to streamline recruitment, increase employee satisfaction, and improve productivity.

Event presentations and expert panel discussions will be driven by real-life case studies, research, market intelligence, and feedback from industry leaders and influencers.

Get on the list.

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