# Would you be a dip to try this chip?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 4, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746 "2017-04-04T17:19:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/61 "2017-04-06T15:42:06Z")

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> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> I’m pretty sure in the US you can terminate an employee on a whim. And not have to provide any layoff assistance.

> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> As has been pointed out, you _can_ be fired without cause. Also, courts will prohibit employees from rewarding those who accept the implants?

This is happening in Sweden.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/62 "2017-04-06T15:53:00Z")

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> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> This is happening in Sweden.

Although it is rather obvious that I am addressing posters that live anywhere about whether this would be acceptable where they live, your response doesn’t really address the second question I just asked, either, or some of the previous ones, either. The answer “Sweden” is great if I am asking “Where is this company operating from?” But since I am the one that posted the OP and the link, I sorta already knew that.

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**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/63 "2017-04-06T16:30:56Z")

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So you are just curious about every jurisdictions rules on employee coercion? Because then this technology is barely required for that discussion. If an American company awarded employees who get neck tattoos, would that be ok? Say, a simple employee number and a bar code.

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/64 "2017-04-06T16:33:45Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> As has been pointed out, you _can_ be fired without cause. Also, courts will prohibit employees from rewarding those who accept the implants?

Not in Sweden, which is what I thought our side discussion was about. And yes, courts would rule in favour of an employee with proof they were being disadvantaged due to refusing something not relevant to their work performance.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/65 "2017-04-06T16:43:13Z")

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> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> So you are just curious about every jurisdictions rules on employee coercion? Because then this technology is barely required for that discussion. If an American company awarded employees who get neck tattoos, would that be ok? Say, a simple employee number and a bar code.

I am interested in the subject I brought up in this thread…but thanks, anyway.

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**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/66 "2017-04-07T17:19:28Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> As has been pointed out, you _can_ be fired without cause. Also, courts will prohibit employees from rewarding those who accept the implants?

So let’s take this logically.

What’s the incentive–for the employer–to require employees to get a chip like this?

In other words, let’s look at the whole spectrum of employers, from shadowy power-players to power-tripping abusive jerks, to middle of the road plodders, to enlightened do-gooders.

What are the bad things an employer could do if their employees are chipped, both to the employees and to society in general? As far as I can see, nothing directly, that couldn’t be accomplished by the easier step of just requiring employees to wear their badge at all times. The only bad that I can see is that by forcing employees to do this meaningless and degrading surgical procedure it further re-enforces the class division between the all powerful corporate masters who can do whatever they like, and the powerless serfs who work for them. But they could do the exact same thing by requiring employees to undergo any number of degrading submission rituals merely designed to highlight the power imbalance.

So obviously this is bad, but only because it’s a meaningless degradation that results in no meaningful direct benefit to either the employee or the employer.

As for the good, I can’t see any beyond an employee not being able to lose their badge. And this is a problem that takes 3 minutes to solve at the reception desk.

Of course, the real reason this is in the news is not because the employer thinks it’s a good idea, but because it’s a publicity stunt. This is not a policy on the verge of being rolled out worldwide. It’s a wacky startup trying to get some free press about their goofy implanted chips.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/67 "2017-04-08T00:30:09Z")

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I was thinking today as I dug my badge out from the roll on my belt, that it would be like old times to just put my hand on the door for it to open. 🙂

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**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-a-dip-to-try-this-chip/783746/68 "2017-04-08T00:47:44Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> I am interested in the subject I brought up in this thread…but thanks, anyway.

No good. I am demanding you to tell me what would happen if an Alabama factory ordered neck tattoos.

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