Is it an illegal for my boss to put a hidden camera in my personal office with out telling me?

Question

Is this an invasion of privacy?

Answer 1

People have the right to be warned of any cameras in a public place, work, or school.

eg. my school has cameras all over the halls, but as you enter the building it says the school is monitored by surveillance cameras.

http://www.ipc.on.ca/images/Resources/video-e.pdf <- this shows the laws in Ontario, Canada (I don't know where you're from, but I would assume most places are similar).

It basically says, they can only be used for valid lawful reasons, and with the least privacy infringments possible - and that you have the right to know you are being recorded.

Answer 2

You don't have an expectation of privacy in the workplace. Your company pays for your time, and it thinks it owns you.
Now the moral and ethical consequences of not telling you is different, and you are properly angered by this. No one wants to feel spied upon, and photographs of you adjusting your clothing or doing personal things that you wouldn't do in a public setting are understandably upsetting. It would have been far better, ethically and for morale if they had told you they were putting in cameras. But then they would have had to hear from the people they were spying on.

Answer 3

Hidden cameras are legal as long as they are not in dressing rooms or bathrooms. Any employer as the owner of the facility has the right to use these as security measures. You cant assume any right to privacy in a pubic work area(which includes an office)

Answer 4

Does your office have a door that you are allowed to keep shut at your own discretion? If so then you do have a certain expectation of privacy and you should have been informed. If the door is there but its somewhat unspoken that you leave it open, then you really have no expectation of privacy. But you really shouldn't be working in a place where you aren't trusted enough to work without somebody looking at you.

Answer 5

In most places that would not be considered a private area, because the company owns the office. The only truly private areas would be rest-rooms.
However, most companies know that this would be poor employee relations and therefore would not engage in it. Unless someone was suspected of irregularities. Then there would have to be a policy in place and it would have to be company-wide. If you are singled out, they are leaving themselves open to lawsuits.
Human Resources is the best place to get this particular companies policy.

Answer 6

Yes, yes, and 100 times yes. It is not only illegal for him to spy on you at work, it is also immoral. No boss has any right to spy on their employees! Employees have every right to privacy, especially in a private office. That's why its called a private office you nuckleheads!

Answer 7

You have no privacy as soon as you walk out of your residence. Your "personal office" is not your property. This type of "surveillance" is happening more and more. Email and web surfing are monitored. Car rental companies have recording devices that monitor your speed. Many companies in the transportation business are using GPS to monitor their drivers. It's here to stay.

Answer 8

it is not your office,.....it belongs to the company you work for,.....they can put the camera there, and also follow what you do on the inter-net with the company computer,.....it is not an invasion of your privacy,.....

Answer 9

Don't expect ANY privacy at work, except in a locker room or bathroom.

Answer 10

If your under suspision for something, that's their right. Maybe their assessing you to see if you own up to their standards and perform your job right.This might be how they decide whether you stay on as an employee or even deserve a raise. This is their right, this is their home not yours.