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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hate that our boss spies on us

43 replies

Jolliebean · 07/06/2018 09:56

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?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 07/06/2018 10:58

I'd find a new job.

Iamtryingtobenicehere · 07/06/2018 10:58

Can you change your screensavers (all of you in the office) to say “ if you’re reading this, you’re a prick”?

MumofBoysx2 · 07/06/2018 11:00

What a creep. I'd find a new boss!

soupforbrains · 07/06/2018 11:28

I laughed out loud at is your boss Calf123

valid point though, does your boss also lock the office doors during working hours? if so I'm pretty sure you're employed by Calf123.

More on topic, I'm fairly certain that that sort of monitoring isn't legal, as it's not your standard CCTV. Even if he IS allowed to monitor in that way he has to have a written policy and procedure in place outlining exactly what omonitoring is happening, where, why, at what times and how long any footage is kept for (not really relevant here)

The law states that in monitoring employees (whether it be checking their emails, listening ot recorded phonecalls or cctv) Employers should not act without reasonable and proper cause, in a way which is likely to destroy or damage the relationship of mutual trust and confidence between themselves and their employees.

I would say that this is likely to destroy said trust. Additional the Human Rights Act and the right to privacy therein come into play too.

also, in order to comply with these regulations an employer has to carry out an Impact Assessment PRIOR to setting up monitoring system in order to assess the impact on the employees and their privacy.

You say the company is small, do you have a HR department or person? if not then maybe take a look at a couple of sites online for advice and guidance and consider visiting the CAB for some legal advice.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5721

soupforbrains · 07/06/2018 11:39

oh also you should make a complaint to the ICO, ico.org.uk/

I know that they sound like they only deal with data but they are also the people who deal with visual monitoring etc.

(or just tell your boss that what he's doing infringes your human rights and the right to privacy as well as GDPR and other laws and that you will be making a complaint to The Information Comissioner's Office if he does not stop.)

heateallthebuns · 07/06/2018 11:41

Sounds like he'll be left with no staff at all!!! Everyone will be finding other jobs as soon as they can.

Forevertired1 · 07/06/2018 11:44

Is it explicitly stated in your work contract? If not, it must be illegal, surely?

DaffoDeffo · 07/06/2018 11:48

dd had a boss who did this. She had a Saturday job answering phones/reception in a small salon and one day she was sat there and she said it was a bit like a religious epiphany where God appears out of nothing as a voice came literally out of the ceiling and asked her what she was doing (as there was someone in the salon, lurking and he wanted to know why she hadn't dealt with him)!

She looked everywhere, thought she had the phone on speaker, couldn't find where it was coming from.

Turns out her boss had fitted video monitoring without telling her and it had voice in it (the boss lives a few streets away). She was totally freaked out (as was I tbh) and she never went back. Made me wonder if he was watching her in the loo the filthy perv!

ReanimatedSGB · 07/06/2018 11:49

Can you talk to your boss and point out that he is breaking the law?
Is it the sort of small company that's riddled with shitty employment practice anyway?
What he is doing is outrageous and unacceptable, whatever the reason, but he might be able to claim more justification if there have been problems along the lines of staff theiving, giving away confidential information or whatever. If he just thinks he owns you all and wants to make sure that no one ever takes a personal phone call or checks their bank balance during working hours, then he's heading for tribunals and all sorts of trouble...

RedPony1 · 07/06/2018 12:06

Is your boss Calf123? This made me laugh out loud Grin

DerelictWreck · 07/06/2018 12:12

What did CaIF123 do?!

BlueSapp · 07/06/2018 12:15

This is extremely weird, I'd be looking for a new job pronto

Mountainsoutofmolehills · 07/06/2018 12:28

Def. all the advice above is good..... This guy is a madness.

Mammalamb · 07/06/2018 12:29

What is all the Calf123 stuff? People need tae know

Bramble71 · 07/06/2018 12:33

Might be some advice here:
www.yourprivacy.co.uk/employeesurveillance.html

Polarbearflavour · 07/06/2018 12:45

I would be looking for a new job, that’s weird.

That’s also why I don’t work for small companies!

HettySunshine · 07/06/2018 12:59

The Calf123 stuff comes from this thread.

To leave work on time?!!
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/3256490-to-leave-work-on-time

Jolliebean · 07/06/2018 15:34

I will reply properly to everyone when I get home later. Thank you for all of the links!
And no thankfully it’s not quite as bad as working for ‘Calf123’ but it’s not far off! Haha

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