New Delhi: Suzie Cheikho, a long-term employee at Insurance Australia Group (IAG), found herself dismissed in February 2023 after the company utilized keystroke monitoring technology to assess her performance while working remotely. Over her 18-year tenure, Cheikho’s termination came as a shock, especially as the company cited her laptop activity, such as late logins, early logouts, and low keystroke counts, as evidence of inadequate job performance.
Expressing her dismay in a since-deleted TikTok video, Cheikho questioned the reasoning behind her dismissal, lamenting the potential impact on her future employability and the online harassment she’s faced since her story gained attention. Despite her ordeal, she has actively sought new opportunities, as indicated on her LinkedIn profile.
Keystroke monitoring, a practice increasingly adopted by employers to gauge remote workers’ productivity, played a pivotal role in Cheikho’s case. Allegedly, IAG identified numerous instances where she logged in late, logged out early, and failed to meet her designated work hours. Additionally, her average keystrokes per hour fell significantly below expectations.
Upon her termination, Cheikho disputed the company’s claims, asserting that she had not slackened in her duties and attributing her dismissal to a predetermined agenda, possibly influenced by her mental health challenges.
