In cab camera

[Falcor]

As a van driver, the company i work for have installed in cab cameras. I don't have a problem with being filmed. But the cameras are used to penalise drivers on the company system, examples of what drivers have been penalised for are as follows: sneezing, yawning, being quarter of a second too close to the car in front(not sure they can calibrate this). Touching papers/radio, talking to the radio.(accused of being on the phone). We were told that the footage would only be used in the event of an incident/accident. Bit this doesn't seem to be the case. Does anyone know what the legal implications are of this ?

[james_law]

Firstly your employer has every right to video you as long as they notify you of this and also give reason as to why they need to.

You should have a written policy for this workplace monitoring which probably would form part of your contract.

Under the Data Protection Act if your employer's reason for camera is say, to prevent theft, your employer can't use the footage for another reason say monitoring movement in the workplace.

By the sounds of it your employer is using the monitoring excessively, I would write a formal grievance and politely ask them to either stop or use the CCTV for the intention it was said to be for.

To be penalised for sneezing and yawning is completely ludicrous, you might as well put in breathing in there.