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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss and CCTV

56 replies

TheWitTank · 02/07/2015 19:27

Boss is currently away on holiday (2 weeks in a far away destination) and has left me and 3 other members of staff to run the business while he is away. We currently have cctv to monitor entrances and the two general work areas.
Before he left he was messing around for an afternoon installing a screen in his office. Didn't think much of it. We have found out that he has set up more cctv and has been recording us while he is on holiday -and has also been watching us frequently (which seems a bit peculiar to me while on a break).
I'm not concerned at all about my work or anything I've done -I've just worked as normal. But aibu to be a bit pissed off that he felt the need to sneakily add extra cameras and coverage and record us? It seems very underhand not to mention it, like he's trying to catch us out. I've been working for him a long time as have the other staff. No problems. If he had said something I would have been fine. Is it actually legal to record someone without their knowledge or any signs?

OP posts:
Fatmomma99 · 03/07/2015 11:12

can you fake the time so it looks like you're all there at midnight?

ephemeralfairy · 03/07/2015 11:58

I spent two years working in a CCTV control room and I am fairly sure that this is illegal.
We were only allowed to use CCTV for security purposes and NOT to monitor staff performance.
We also had cameras in public-facing areas in case of trouble; i.e. visitor says 'staff member attacked me' we can play video back and say 'no, you attacked staff member'. Staff and visitors were however made fully aware.

Orrla · 03/07/2015 12:29

Stage a fake coup?

plutonimum · 03/07/2015 12:54

I worked in a company in which the management did a LOT of underhanded things, including surveillance (thankfully, I got another job soon after).

To me, surveillance indicates a very fucked-up manager. If he feels entitled to snoop, he certainly doesn't trust you, as employees or as fellow adults. Moreover, having set things up for himself without offering any oversight of himself, he's likely to be quite angry if confronted.

I'd be collecting my own evidence, and looking for another job!

Icimoi · 03/07/2015 13:00

Print out LongDistance's post about the CCTV regulations in large font, join the paper together and put it into a large roll, then scroll it slowly up in front of the camera.

Or have a loud discussion about this strange communication you've had from the Information Commissioner about how they've detected the illegal use of CCTV on your premises.

CocktailQueen · 03/07/2015 13:03

Loving FatMomma's ideas - fabulous!!

Not loving your boss secretly filming you - yuk and creepy. And illegal.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 03/07/2015 13:58

In all seriousness, your boss sounds creepy.
Can you buy some pot plants or very ugly ornaments to put in front of the cameras?
Stage a brief power cut, dress a dummy up in a work uniform, having facing away from camera. Power comes back.
Pretend all day dummy is a real person. Act like you're having conversations and suchlike.
Then, go home at the end of the day and just leave it there.
Hide it away when your boss is on his way home.

Momzilla82 · 03/07/2015 14:05

Blow up sex dolls permanently in shot? Cover the lenses with big brother eye sign drawn onto the back on a milk bottle lid.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 03/07/2015 14:31

Icimoi
Brilliant!

paxtecum · 03/07/2015 14:42

Wave and smile at the camera (a lot).

He's being a tosser.

You could probably sue him!

Original poster
TheWitTank · 08/07/2015 21:20

UPDATE
Thanks for all your suggestions -they did make me chuckle!
So, boss is back. Turns out that it's all exactly as we thought. We have been recorded while he was away and he has watched all the footage and has stills of some staff "slacking off" (not me!). He is mightily pissed off. But so am I to be honest! I feel a bit violated, untrusted and spied on. I do actually like my job and get on well with my boss, but this has upset me a bit really. Should I mention it or just let it go? It defence of the other staff members, they haven't actually been slacking off at all. He has cherry picked footage of them having a cup of tea/a sit down. One lady is really angry about it. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to monitor workload through cctv anyway. This job really works for me, but it's been a bit of a game changer really - so what do I do?

OP posts:
SquareTheCircle · 08/07/2015 21:23

If it was me I would print out a copy of the old TV test card and place it carefully in front of the camera every time he is out.

RandomMess · 08/07/2015 21:25

I wouldn't want to stay there tbh Sad

Starbrite00 · 08/07/2015 21:28

Could you not report it anonymously?

SignoraStronza · 08/07/2015 21:31

I would encourage your 'slacker' colleague to get on the phone to the information commissioner's office.

Original poster
TheWitTank · 08/07/2015 21:32

I don't really want to stay now to be honest. But it's really great money and suits my lifestyle with the kids etc. Sadly I can't just leave without finding something else. It's such a shame as I do actually like my job and the people and I've worked hard at it. Oh well, the job search is on I guess. Fucking hell.

OP posts:
ephemeralfairy · 08/07/2015 21:32

The rules are quite clear. Your boss should have made you aware that you were being monitored and why (preferably in writing). The only way you can justify monitoring staff without their knowledge is if you suspect they are committing a crime. In any case, CCTV should not be used to monitor staff performance.

Have a read of this OP.

www.gov.uk/data-protection-your-business/using-cctv

Do you have an HR dept? Are you in a union? To me this is pretty serious, and I would be seeking further advice.

Original poster
TheWitTank · 08/07/2015 21:33

Will speak to the lady tomorrow about reporting.

OP posts:
ephemeralfairy · 08/07/2015 21:34

He is potentially breaking the Data Protection Act, which is quite serious for an employer. Please seek further advice if you can.

Original poster
TheWitTank · 08/07/2015 21:35

No HR department (very small company) and I'm not in a union. Thanks for the link, will go and have a read. I feel like I'm making a fuss over nothing, but it's really bugged me. I feel shit about it.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 08/07/2015 21:37

I would feel violated too tbh.

CassieBearRawr · 08/07/2015 21:37

I was going to say, he can't use it to monitor performance if it's normally used for crime purposes, and certainly not if it was sneaky secret cctv. What a shame he's ruined a perfectly good working environment.

plutonimum · 08/07/2015 21:37

Damn, what a shame it was as bad as we feared. Sad

Sorry, if he has done this, he's a terrible boss, who may be taking other liberties, and it is not really the great job you thought...

Optimist1 · 08/07/2015 21:38

Any chance you can sit him down and spell it out to him why his actions were so unreasonable? You've articulated your feelings well here, and could throw in a "have you ever had any reason to doubt our honesty at any time?" to underline the point.

I had a boss like this; to the best of my knowledge he didn't go so far as to film us but only because he was IT illiterate.

Sleepsoftly · 08/07/2015 21:41

Just get a new job.