AI wearables in the workplace: employee rights, employer obligations & policy controls

AI-enabled wearable technology is moving into the workplace. Smart glasses, watches and other connected devices can capture information, process data and introduce new capabilities into employees' day-to-day work.

For employers, however, their use raises an important question: what should employees be permitted to do with AI wearables at work, and where should the organisation draw the line?

Businesses need clear rules that balance the potential benefits of wearable technology against information protection, workplace risk, employee rights and organisational responsibilities.

This live webinar examines the practical controls organisations should consider when employees use AI wearable technology in the workplace. The session moves beyond general AI awareness and focuses specifically on creating a formal, risk-based AI Wearable Technology Policy and Procedure that gives employees, managers and decision-makers clear guidance.

What the webinar covers

• Policy purpose and information protection: Establish the purpose of an AI wearable policy and an overriding information-protection rule to guide workplace use.

• Clear technology classifications: Develop a detailed framework distinguishing between prohibited, conditionally allowed and generally allowed uses of wearable technology.

• Specific prohibited-use rules: Identify circumstances in which AI wearables should not be used and establish rules employees can understand and apply.

• Six-part approval test: Apply a structured six-part test when deciding whether a proposed use of wearable technology should be conditionally approved.

• Nine-step employee workflow: Establish a clear process employees can follow when they want to introduce or use wearable technology at work.

• Employee-owned wearables and BYOD: Create separate controls for personally owned devices and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) arrangements.

• Before, during and after-use controls: Manage risk throughout the full lifecycle of wearable technology use rather than relying only on initial approval.

• Accountability and decision rights: Establish a clear matrix defining who can approve, oversee and make decisions about workplace wearable technology.

• Incident response and enforcement: Determine what should happen when an AI wearable is misused, an incident occurs or workplace rules are breached.

• 90-day implementation roadmap: Develop a practical approach for introducing an AI Wearable Technology Policy and Procedure within the organisation.

Why this matters for employers

AI wearables introduce a different set of workplace considerations from conventional laptops and smartphones. Their ability to operate continuously and interact with the user's surroundings means organisations need to think carefully about where, when and how these technologies may be used.

Simply banning every new device may prevent legitimate business applications, while allowing unrestricted use can expose an organisation to unnecessary risk.

A structured policy gives employers a middle ground: clearly identifying unacceptable uses while establishing an approval process for legitimate applications.

This webinar is therefore particularly relevant for organisations reviewing their AI policies, BYOD rules, information-protection controls and workplace technology governance as new AI-enabled devices enter the workplace.

Who should attend?

The webinar is relevant to HR and Employee Relations professionals, HR executives and managers, Legal and Compliance teams, Information Officers, IT and Information Security professionals, Risk Managers, business leaders and managers responsible for workplace technology, employee conduct or organisational policy.

Event details

Date: 23 October 2026

Time: 10:00–11:00

Format: Live online webinar

Platform: Zoom

Investment: R950 excl. VAT per delegate

Contact: info@globalbusiness.co.za for more info.

Presented by Global Business Solutions (GBS)—Your Partner in Strategic HR Compliance

All workshops are offered as customised in-house training that can be presented virtually or on-site.

*All courses and conferences are subject to minimum delegate numbers.

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