This device is only a little bigger than the average wristwatch, but when it comes to their workers, it’ll tell employers a lot more than just the time.

As a kid, Dick Tracey’s two-way wrist TV always seemed pretty cool. Not only could Dick talk to his colleagues anywhere, but he could also see them on a small screen. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have one of those?

Well, this isn’t exactly what we had in mind when it comes to keeping in touch with work colleagues via wrist-worn devices.

The company Exmocare has developed a wrist monitor, the BT2, that allows employers to keep close tabs on their employees’ vital functions: heartbeat and skin conditions such as sweating that in turn can gauge a person’s emotions. Reports are sent back to a central location via Bluetooth technology.

Details are pretty slim right now on how exactly employers would use this device. In fact, the company’s Web site, www.exmocare.com, is pretty slim right now.

But gadget Web sites such as dvice.com say the BT2 gives “employers the ability to keep track of employees on the fly to perhaps maximize efficiency.”

OK, so imagine this: As part of employee orientation, you hand the newbie the BT2.

“Put this on.”

“Why?”

“It allows us to monitor and measure your emotions.”

“I quit.”

So HR Blunders asks the question: Do you really want to know that much about your employees emotions? Yeah, we don’t either.

Tags: employee emotions, monitoring employees, wrist monitor