Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

Therre seems to be a discussion goin on in this thread about use of cameras in high riskj areas like petrol stations etc. Thats going totally off thread as its been stated that the cameras are in the staff room, not somehere thats likely to be held up etc.

Its all very pointless & taking it to extremes that are not really relevent.

I do think that the original poster needs to consult someone with legal know how I.E. citizens advice bureau/solicitor etc to check the legal standpoint on this & I would like to know the outcome.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

Could / should start with own in house HR / Legal departments. Both may not be aware of this guys plans and could put the kibosh on them pretty quickly.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

You can think whatever you like, I can't help that. I have given my reasoning, if you can't accept that, it's not my problem.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

I found this today.

Points out a few things.

Have you had any further developments?

EDIT: and this.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

hi

New to this forum but have a query on this subject.

where do you think staff stand as per Lunch break, we have a camera 6 foot above our usual lunch table and it records sound too?

are we entitled to a little more privacy?

cheers

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

That would depend entirely on what your contract or terms of employment state.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

Not really. I highly doubt there's a clause in the contract allowing it.

There are two important things here:

a) The employer needs to tell you formally what they're doing
b) The employer needs to put up notices informing all in the area that footage is being recorded, and especially that sound is being recorded

Do you have a union in your workplace? If so, are you a member? You need to talk to your union rep and they need to arrange a meeting with the employer at a local level post haste.

You say it's your lunch area - is this somewhere you just go to eat your lunch, or is it somewhere you're told you must spend your lunch break?! I hope it's not the latter.

The guidelines from the Trade Unions' Congress is that the employer needs a valid reason to put up cameras and if there isn't one, other than spying on staff, they shouldn't be there. Nonetheless, warning should be put up in the area. The basic fight you can put up is that all staff have a right to privacy in the workplace - just look at tuc.org.uk for more information.

As for sound recording, that's just out of order.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

Sound recording at lunch? :shocked: That's shocking, you might aswell be in prison :shocked::monkey:

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

Sounds like time for a 'sting'.

Set up a fake scandalous story and see what transpires.

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

latest guidance on it here

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documen...f_practice.pdf

---------- Post added at 02:47 ---------- Previous post was at 02:30 ----------

i personally doubt even if its in your contract that would comply with above guidance or the HRA or RIPPA ( later asi can see no work related reason for a camera or sound in a eating area other than to prevent theft etc time spent in there could easily be derived from a camera on door to room )

Welcome to the site :)

I think recording sound is unethical really,i know alot of places do it.... The question i guess is can they use anything they hear against someone?

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

That document is nine years old, and I can't see where it says the employer can't record conversations.

What if he works in a bank and is planning a robbery? What if an employee is being racially harrassed and everyone else denies it? What if female employees are complaining about lewd comments from some male employees?

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

We had cameras installed in our rest rooms too, for security reasons, we complained to everyone we could think of. In the end the company just carried on anyway. It cost loads of money to install them and over many years nothing ever happened, aside from privacy issues, so what, remember the boss always knows best!

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

because it has to be proportionate and shown to be needed as they are not working there seems to be no work related need

and if its to stop theft etc it can not be done as an on going thing it is suposed only to be used them for a limited time and comes under much stricter rules

which goes to your second part too that sort of surveillance cant be done as an ongoing operation

Re: Cameras in the Workplace
 

I can understand the reasons for wanting the cctv.

each member of staff now has a camera pointed at them for 8 hours, no camera on entry/exit point of workplace. even the guy answering phones all day has one pointed at him now and he is unable to get privacy durin breaks as he can't leave site like rest of staff.

no one has been told real reasons for surveillance

no signs up in workplace informing us of sound recording

4 members of staff = 4 cameras

5 years and no thefts, guaranteed! no wonder staff are ****ed off.

---------- Post added at 22:38 ---------- Previous post was at 22:34 ----------


the area where lunch has to be eaten is the only area which was allocated before cctv, so yes i suppose we have been told to eat there. But we can go out during lunch, but why should we?