Being spied on it work

[midlifespices]

I work for a company with

It's shit and unfair but spreading inaccurate info isn't going to help anybody.

I haven't said anything inaccurate though. I said it's illegal if she's not been informed about it, and she hasn't said anything about being informed. I'm only going on what she's told us...

@FunTimes2020

Pre contract renewal, I would casually drop in some compliments about the job/owners etc here and there to others in the office. Once the ink has dried on my new contract, I would unplug the offending article and plug in something else (e.g.a fan or phone charger) or hang a thick winter coat over it, whatever is easiest

This!

If you are correct about this, I think it is appalling. How can anyone be relaxed and work efficiently if they are constantly monitored? It's not as if you are working in a high security job or one where 'safeguarding' is important.

In your position I think I would try to find a way to 'accidentally' disable the monitoring and see what happens.

I doubt very much that endless recordings are listened to but random samples will be.

What do your colleagues think, OP?

I think it's legal - but it really causes a lot of employer / employee friction and a lack of trust.

There are lots of ways employees can be monitored and I would hate to work in such a place.

You could always start chatting to your bosses through it. Freak the right out when you greet them by name in the morning and evening.

Chances are it is legal.

You already know there is CCTV, so as long as there are the appropriate notices in place and employees are aware it is there, then the owners can put cameras wherever they want as long as they are not in prohibited areas like toilets. Recording equipment doesn't have to be static, it can be moved from place to place, office to office, desk to desk etc. A big reason why this has not happened in the past is that CCTV has often been fixed in place and hard to move, now that there are many portable cameras it is easier to move them more often.

It is likely that if there was a query about it being there your employer would say it is part of the CCTV system so covered by the regulations for that.

I'm really shocked that this is legal. What if you had your own office and got changed in there?

@ChickensMightFly

Surely it is illegal to record someone without their knowledge!? I would have thought so, but don't know. Don't blame you at all for not being happy about it. Sorry not to have anything more constructive than solidarity to offer

Try telling that to the millions of cctv cameras that record you each day!

I would have thought they could monitor business calls but the private conversations I'm not sure about.

Either way, it's a bit creepy.

"Oh, look, what's this funny thing? Is it a camera, some pervy person trying to upskirt me or looking down my cleavage? Well whoever you are, you sad prick , bugger off ... "

I'd be a bit more subtle. Can you sing or whistle? 'Hiho, hiho, it's off the work we go' could be a good one.

I wouldn't want to work with people who could do this.

www.spygadgets.com/acoustic-noise-generators/

Even before GDPR the ICO guidance for employers including the section on covert monitoring said it should only be done with a very high level board decision and only where justified and only where that was the only way to achieve the relevant aim. Also CCTV with signs must avoid areas such as toilets.

I don't think you get the best out of people by recording them like that. I would never even read my child's diary nor check their websites as I respect their privacy rights - I realise I am at one extreme on these issues however.

your union can give you guidance on how to address this

@Xenia

Even before GDPR the ICO guidance for employers including the section on covert monitoring said it should only be done with a very high level board decision and only where justified and only where that was the only way to achieve the relevant aim. Also CCTV with signs must avoid areas such as toilets.

I don't think you get the best out of people by recording them like that. I would never even read my child's diary nor check their websites as I respect their privacy rights - I realise I am at one extreme on these issues however.

Does this count as covert though? They are already aware there are cameras and the camera itself isn't hidden.

It’s a little strange, unless you work in a cash environment or handle high value items of stock. If it’s an office based environment, I can only assume that there may have been issues with previous staff members.

If you like the job, given the economic situation at the moment I think I would keep my mouth shut. I can’t see how it would be illegal to have cctv on private property, it’s not covert, you know it’s there.

Can you talk to your colleagues what you wish for Christmas? You may get a nice voucher

I agree with others either put a picture in front of it or unplug it and act daft when then they come in to plug it back in if they do ask oh whys that here it's a bit close to me isn't it. Do you work in some sort of highly classified job or something I can't see why they would need so many cameras for I presume office based work

According to the ICO, there needs to be a justifiable reason for a camera to also record audio and everyone subject to it needs to be made aware explicitly, be that through written policy and/or signage. Failing that, there has to be a very good reason at a high managerial level to record covertly. I doubt they are complying with the regulations.

I'd be tempted to hang a cardigan or something over it. I don't like the idea of being filmed at all, but especially without my consent.

Pretend that you haven't noticed it and then put a bunch of files or a cardboard box in front of it or on top of it.

It's not something I could hang anything on but I could shift it so it's not looking directly at me. Def don't work anywhere wish cash/high security items etc.

I wouldn't mind being recorded as have nothing to hide but just find it strange that it's done without any reasoning behind it.

I would say some very repetitive random things to see if they materialise then you know for sure. Then once you get your contract, then broach it

I would just work on the assumption that boss is effectively always in the room. And possibly nudge it behind something.

I'd just say really corporate stuff all day long then wi I at it every single time