| When most people think of security cameras | | | | bathrooms and changing rooms. Another common |
| and who they are recording footage of may | | | | problem is for personal information that is |
| think of a burglar or unauthorized person who | | | | gathered from the camera systems when an |
| enters or attempts to enter a building. In | | | | employee is captured on them being used for |
| many cases it is not only the unknown that is | | | | commercial purposes. It is also illegal for |
| being looked at but also the known; many | | | | any form of security camera system in the |
| companies will use the systems to keep a | | | | workplace to be used for audio and visual |
| careful and watchful eye over their | | | | purposes, it is also not allowed to record |
| employees. Cameras can be positioned in areas | | | | verbal/audio in the surveillance footage. A |
| which would be considered vulnerable to catch | | | | good employer will be aware of the |
| anyone who is an area or doing something that | | | | legislation and laws surrounding hidden |
| is not allowed. | | | | camera use and will abide by these |
| | | | guidelines, as an employee it is worth making |
| It is considered a necessity to have cameras | | | | yourself aware of the laws as well. |
| in some institutions and buildings used to | | | | |
| monitor the staff, places such as banks, | | | | If you are an employer and considering the |
| government buildings, hi-tech industries and | | | | installation of a hidden security camera |
| testing facilities would be common place and | | | | system then there are some guidelines you |
| the employees would expect the cameras to be | | | | will need to follow to ensure that you keep |
| in the buildings. It is however very | | | | on the right side of the law. It is also |
| important that the employer is careful about | | | | imperative that all the employees are |
| where and how they monitor the staff, if the | | | | consulted before hand in writing about what |
| methods that are undertaken are deemed | | | | you are installing and why, this letter for |
| intrusive then the employer could find | | | | the employee should include a waiver to sign |
| themselves in court. There are of course lots | | | | so they acknowledge that they have been told. |
| of very good reasons as to why the employer | | | | It needs to be carefully laid out with the |
| would want to install hidden security cameras | | | | cameras in locations that would not be |
| to monitor their employees; however it is now | | | | considered intrusive and breaking the |
| believed that the privacy of employees in the | | | | guidelines, whilst all management should be |
| workplace is becoming intruded upon more and | | | | aware of the privacy risks and briefed on the |
| more often. | | | | layout of the systems. A set of guidelines |
| | | | should be drawn out for every employee |
| There are a number of main issues that arise | | | | outlining the privacy policy and the rights |
| in cases against the employer for miss use of | | | | that the employees have in respect of their |
| hidden security cameras and these include any | | | | privacy, whilst providing the case and |
| form of monitoring in private areas such as | | | | reasons for the installation. |