Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

[Greyhounddark]

My employers are planning on putting a hidden camera and recording device in my departments warehouse due to recent thefts of stock. I only found out that they were planning on this through a friend on the security team, however they are not planning on telling everyone who uses the warehouse. Are they breaking the law by not obtaining our permission to record us under the data protection act?

[wales01man]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

You can tell the others?

[cards down]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

It seems rather strange that your employers are using covert cameras. In this day and age I’m surprised that your warehouse isn’t covered in cameras already. They have a right to protect their business. They won’t need your permission. On the bright side if CCTV helps catch the culprits then that will take away suspicion from the innocent employees.

[Amethyst]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

Separate, specific guidance on the use of CCTV in the workplace is also provided in the ICO's Employment practices Code and more information on the specific considerations for employers using CCTV can be found in our article on Use of CCTV in the Workplace.

Also http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...905#post461905

[Greyhounddark]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

It seems rather strange that your employers are using covert cameras. In this day and age I’m surprised that your warehouse isn’t covered in cameras already. They have a right to protect their business. They won’t need your permission. On the bright side if CCTV helps catch the culprits then that will take away suspicion from the innocent employees.

No it doesn't have cameras already I was just more concerned about private conversations between work friends being spread by other employees listening to recordings

[cards down]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

Your standard CCTV cameras do not come with audio facilities although it is something of a growth especially with IP cameras. Microphones can quite easily be installed with the CCTV system but are you sure this is what your employers are considering doing? A companies CCTV system would normally only be monitored by chosen staff and it would be doubtful if any member of staff would be given the time to trawl through hours of CCTV footage just to listen to employees conversations. I would expect if your employers were to go to the expense of installing CCTV then it would be done as a deterrent to theft/losses rather than listening to employees conversations.

Also you say you only found out through a friend of the security team. His/her job is to prevent loss and if by letting one member of staff know that cameras may be installed deters a theft then they are doing their job.

[Greyhounddark]

Re: Employers secretly recording conversations without consent

Your standard CCTV cameras do not come with audio facilities although it is something of a growth especially with IP cameras. Microphones can quite easily be installed with the CCTV system but are you sure this is what your employers are considering doing? A companies CCTV system would normally only be monitored by chosen staff and it would be doubtful if any member of staff would be given the time to trawl through hours of CCTV footage just to listen to employees conversations. I would expect if your employers were to go to the expense of installing CCTV then it would be done as a deterrent to theft/losses rather than listening to employees conversations.

Also you say you only found out through a friend of the security team. His/her job is to prevent loss and if by letting one member of staff know that cameras may be installed deters a theft then they are doing their job.

Yeah they are using a camera that looks like an electric box with a warning high voltage on it and in the 'I' there's a camera and microphone