See Privacy at Work: What are Your Rights? to learn more. Regardless of the reason for use, employers must let workers know that cameras are being used in the workplace. Business insurance providers may even offer lower premiums if the insured company has video surveillance of their business. Most employees working behind the counter at a jewelry store have no reasonable expectation of privacy.Įven if employees who work in cubicles probably think they have some privacy, many companies and businesses of all types monitor employee interactions.
It is quite common for retail stores, banks, restaurants, and other employers that interact with the public to use video surveillance in locations where security or theft prevention is important.
Most of these laws limiting video camera use in the workplace pertain to restrooms, break rooms, and other areas for which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. State privacy laws may determine the extent to which video monitoring is considered legitimate and therefore lawful (check with your state labor agency for more details). When employers use video cameras to monitor employees, they must have a legitimate business reason. See Are Hidden Cameras at Work Legal? and the Workplace Privacy subsection of our Small Business Law Center for additional information. This article provides a general overview of when and how employers may use video cameras to monitor workers. Additionally, federal wiretap law makes it illegal to record certain oral communications, which is why surveillance cameras usually lack audio. Other state laws limit how and where employees may be monitored. Employers may be limited in the use of surveillance to monitor union activity. However, there are some instances where it is not allowed. Most video surveillance in the workplace is permissible when the employers notify workers about the surveillance. Many employers use video cameras to prevent internal theft, security purposes, and to have a record of any employee accident or injury.
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