Panopticon Perceptions and Work Engagement Among Airline Employees: The Role of Surveillance in Employee Motivation

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of airline employees’ perceptions of workplace surveillance, conceptualized through the Panopticon, on their work engagement. The study employed a quantitative research design with a sample of 305 airline employees working in Istanbul, including cabin crew, flight crew, ground services, technical staff, and administrative personnel. Data were collected using the Panopticon Scale, which measures Positive Panopticon, Negative Panopticon, External Responsibility, and Awareness of Being Watched, and the short form of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9), which evaluates vigor, dedication, and absorption. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression to examine the relationships between Panopticon perceptions and work engagement levels. The findings indicate that Positive Panopticon perception significantly enhances overall work engagement and its sub-dimensions, particularly vigor and absorption, by creating a sense of security and motivating employees to perform tasks more effectively. In contrast, Negative Panopticon perception was found to reduce work engagement and vigor, increasing stress and decreasing job satisfaction. Awareness of being watched positively affected employees’ vigor but did not have a statistically significant impact on dedication, absorption, or overall engagement. These results suggest that surveillance policies should be carefully designed and communicated in a transparent and supportive manner, as positive perceptions can strengthen motivation and performance, whereas negative perceptions may undermine employee commitment and well-being.