Can you use cameras to monitor individual employees you suspect of theft/fraud?

Question

will this have any legal/employment law implications?

Answer 1

you can monitor employees on your property but not in private places, many businesses have cameras and there is no expectation of privacy.

Answer 2

I would think not , you are or would be setting yourself up for an intrusion on that persons privacy, if that person alone was monitored, you would have to set the camera in such a way that all people get the same treatment , they may well be the dishonest one but who is to say that they are the only one with fingers in the till, to prevent this being thrown at you , you must film all parties to eliminate this, if only to ascertain that your suspicion are accurate and the person is not being set up by a n other employee

Answer 3

An employer is legally permitted to monitor their premises in the interest of security and safety. The employers premises are generaly classed as public premises. There is not even a need to disclose them, but it is best to do so to avoid a possible legal minefield.

All employees must be treated equally, so you cannot put cameras to watch one employee in particular.

Answer 4

yes, i have known this to happen in a well known store where i used to work. The manager did it on two occasions and obviously caught two people upto no good. There was no implications on this as both cases went to court and both were found guilty of theft. Also my current manager did this a few years back and again caught the person in question stealing with no implications. The case went to court and yes the lad was found guilty despite numerous pleas that it wasnt him on the video!!!! You do not have to inform your staff that you are installing cameras either.

Answer 5

First question: Individual employees, no. All employeess yes.

2nd question: If the cameras is able to capture any potential employee, yes. Don't have a camera on during one particular shift but all shifts. Don't have the camera above one employee's desk but above all employees' desk. You can not single out someone.

Answer 6

Depends on your business. Much of the employment legislation remedies for staff are based on a test of reasonableness. Should you work in an office staff may object. CCTV in a petrol station is not a problem as long as it is not covert.

xxB

Answer 7

I think it may go according to state law. Then there are the "privacy" issues. I think that if employ es know they may be videotaped, it should be fine. I thought it is a common practice in supermarkets for cashiers, but I don't know it for a fact.

Answer 8

you can monitor anything you want to. assuming you live in the united states you can use it to fire someone but it isn't admissable evidence should you have to go to court which means you need other evidence as well. its messy business which is why some companies won't do it on ethical grounds, but legally you can.

Answer 9

Just publish it over the news, and then suggest who it is and that person will have one hell of a time finding a job. Screw the legal system....just keep plausible deniablity.

Answer 10

if you have a network get ip cameras fitted and put up signs... As long as peple know there are cameras there I think its all good, but they don't have to know exactly where they are.