To hate that our boss spies on us

[Jolliebean]

I work in a relatively small company which has quite a lot of rules.
The boss has fitted a ‘baby monitor’ into our office attached to his phone so he can spy on us.
He can zoom in and read our screens, he can listen in to our conversations and even talk to us through it when he’s not in the office.

It’s not that I’m not doing my work or whatever but I just hate the constant feeling of being watched.

Is it just me, or is this weird?

It's weird and unacceptable

What baby monitor is it? It sounds really good if it can get a clear picture of your screens!

Completely unacceptable. I don’t even think weird covers it really

If he is causing you and your colleagues mental harm then you can speak to your Union. It's covered under the Health and Safety Act. Also possibly the dignity at work policy (if you have one)

Don't stand for it. It's unfair and infantilising.

That isn't a sensible way to monitor use of computers and behaviour in the office, so he is obviously not very bright or effective. He sounds unhinged. Start looking for a new job.

That is very ineffective from a management point of view. However, you probably won't be able to convince him so I'd simply look for a new job!

All sorts of data protection issues to start with ... I wouldn't want to be a customer if that's managements attitude.

I'd cover the camera with something!

That is not legal at all.

Does he own the company?

Is your boss Calf123?

Is your boss Calf123?

I would hate that.

How is it illigal though? The OP's boss can monitor her computer activity anyway.

Sounds awful. Buy a big plant and place it in front of the camera/monitor.

WTF.... do you have a HR dept? I'd contact them and explain what your manager is doing. That is wrong on so many professional levels.

What made your manager install this baby monitor? Has something happened in the past where he feels he now has to cover his back or something???

Is it the technology that he's using that makes it feel weird? Because lots of companies have security cameras; can listen in to calls; can monitor computer usage and make announcements by loudspeaker.

It's not UR to feel uncomfortable but if your contract has provision for such monitoring then, even though you're describing it as a baby monitor, it's fulfilling standard functions.

Does he know you're posting about it on Mumsnet now? (Waves to OP's boss reading this on OP's screen)

Rofl at is your boss Calf123?

Talk to acas. May be grounds for constructive dismissal. What do other workers say?

I bet he hasn't secured it either ... who else could be watching ?

(if you knew the right people, you could snatch a few seconds of the feed, post them on YouTube, and then call the ICO ...)

Google the Office of the Information Commissioner's help line number and when you have time during office hours give them a callon your mobile.Tell them what's going on.

While some types of surveillance of staff is legal e.g. monitoring network and computer useage using software, cameras over the till area in shops, what he's doing due to the way he's doing it is very likely not.

Under GDPR, he needs your written consent to record you in the workplace AND have a legitimate business reason for doing so. He's breaking the law as there are private conversations that you could be having on your own phone, in your lunch-break or whatever, that he could be privy too.

He can not do it! It is illegal.
I think sometimes some of the bosses behaves like kids. Sometimes I think it will be CSI soon in my workplace and the issues are like who left the tap open? Kind of going back to Nursery level.
Also they have so much information, that they can know who did it, without telling to everyone.
Your boss fear from something, that is why the baby monitor needed.

Its weird behaviour, and he has serious trust issues. I’d look for a new job, who knows what else he can zoom in on, other than your computer screen. !!

ICO take a month or so to assign you a case worker