CCTV in the workplace.

ZeldaAnon

Hi guys,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some information on the legalities regarding CCTV in the workplace.

I work in retail with CCTV surveillance throughout the store. Can someone tell me is it legal for an employer to watch an employee at all times remotely and contact them whenever they see any employee not consistently working, even for a brief moment. Don't get me wrong, we work extremely hard and we just feel it's a bit much to be under constant scrutiny when the instore managers are more than happy with our work anyway.

I was under the impression that CCTV was to be used for security reasons only and not as a tool to intimidate staff. Just trying to find out if this sort of thing is reasonable.


Any insight is greatly appreciated,


Thanks.

BaronVon

The reasons CCTV is installed should be stated and then it can only be used for those, stated reasons.

More than likely the CCTV is installed to prevent theft, therefore it can be used for that.

I'd be very surprised if one of the stated reasons is supervision!

I'm open to correction, but that's my understanding of it.

barbs84

it is against the law for an employer to watch cctv for the purpose of monitering staff, an employer has to have a legitimate reason for watching cctv, ie if an incident has happened, or for the security of stock, and it can also be monitered on entrances and exits, but it is against the law for employer to use the cctv for the sole use of watching employees work and their performance of work, if you feel your employer is exploiting hes authority and misusing the cctv you can lodge a complaint to NERA the national employment rights authority you can also look up www.dataprotection.ie

ScouseMouse

barbs84 wrote: »

it is against the law for an employer to watch cctv for the purpose of monitering staff, an employer has to have a legitimate reason for watching cctv, ie if an incident has happened, or for the security of stock, and it can also be monitered on entrances and exits, but it is against the law for employer to use the cctv for the sole use of watching employees work and their performance of work, if you feel your employer is exploiting hes authority and misusing the cctv you can lodge a complaint to NERA the national employment rights authority you can also look up www.dataprotection.ie

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but if someone was monitoring the CCTV for anti-shoplifting reasons, or to make sure the staff were alright (security reasons), what if it was noticed the staff were dossing or not doing their work. Surely it could be used to say "I also noticed you were dossing" ??

HelenV

barbs84 wrote: »

it is against the law for an employer to watch cctv for the purpose of monitering staff, an employer has to have a legitimate reason for watching cctv, ie if an incident has happened, or for the security of stock, and it can also be monitered on entrances and exits, but it is against the law for employer to use the cctv for the sole use of watching employees work and their performance of work, if you feel your employer is exploiting hes authority and misusing the cctv you can lodge a complaint to NERA the national employment rights authority you can also look up www.dataprotection.ie

I know this thread is a couple of years old but was browsing about CCTV in the workplace when I came across it.

Do you know for sure if it's against the law for an employer to watch staff on CCTV? A family member and her work colleagues are going through absolute hell with their boss sitting day and note on the monitor - do this, do that - what are you/he/she doing that for? Do it the other way - blah, blah, blah. He literally never gets off their backs SERIOUSLY! Obviously though he'll contend he's monitoring for security reasons but the staff believe it's harassment. There is a mix of male and female employees and everyone is watched. It's an employer's market now unfortunately so no one wants to complain to NERA or the like but I am interested to know if other posters have suffered like this? This guy is such a lunatic he'd throw the whole lot of them out in the blink of an eye.

dublad17

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
We have extensive closed circuit television in
all our stores. The company reserves the right
to examine all information that may assist in
determining the true events that occurred as part
of an investigation or disciplinary process. Where
relevant this information will be made available
to the colleague(s) concerned. This doesn’t affect
your statutory rights.

The above statement is in my employee handbook regarding CCTV in the workplace can security in my job monitor me in the workplace and bring up disciplinary action if they are monitoring the CCTV and use it to see if i'm using my mobile phone.