Comments on: Q&A: Electronic Surveillance at Work Often Illegal http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/ Employment Law Firm Blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:33:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: P Hihttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-71182 P Hi Sun, 15 May 2011 04:45:06 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-71182 Hello, I work for a small motel. I noticed last weekend that on my shift the video survelliance camera [that also has audio - there are 2 cameras showing upstairs and downstairs hallways, and 2 outside the building showing the front and rear of the building - was recording. The monitor is a television, with a CD R/W beneath it. No other shifts have been taped. I feel very uneasy about this as I don't think that my manager gave permission for this to be done. The woman who worked the shift prior to mine is very very knowledgable about computers ec, more knowledgable than I believe the manager knows, but I also know a bit about computers. This woman has already stated several times during the past year she wants my job. She hired on a year ago, and I have been with the company eight years. Is this illegal? And, can I request police intervention and return of the CD? I did take series of photos that show the harddrive was taping on the CD rom. Hello,
I work for a small motel. I noticed last weekend that on my shift the video survelliance camera [that also has audio - there are 2 cameras showing upstairs and downstairs hallways, and 2 outside the building showing the front and rear of the building - was recording. The monitor is a television, with a CD R/W beneath it. No other shifts have been taped. I feel very uneasy about this as I don't think that my manager gave permission for this to be done. The woman who worked the shift prior to mine is very very knowledgable about computers ec, more knowledgable than I believe the manager knows, but I also know a bit about computers. This woman has already stated several times during the past year she wants my job. She hired on a year ago, and I have been with the company eight years. Is this illegal? And, can I request police intervention and return of the CD? I did take series of photos that show the harddrive was taping on the CD rom.

]]> By: James Petershttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-28460 James Peters Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:27:02 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-28460 Iris: Unfortunately, your rights are limited and your employer has the right to set up surveillance at work, as long as you have notice that it is being conducted. About the only area that is off-limits is the bathroom. Iris:

Unfortunately, your rights are limited and your employer has the right to set up surveillance at work, as long as you have notice that it is being conducted. About the only area that is off-limits is the bathroom.

]]> By: IRIShttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-28031 IRIS Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:49 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-28031 IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY KIND OF PRIVACY AT WORK. EVERY WHERE I WALK INSIDE THE OFFICE I´M ON CAMERA AND THE CAMERAS ARE VERY CLOSE TO MY FACE AND BODY. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IN THE FRONT COUNTER BUT THERES NO WHERE I CAN HIDE AN EXPRESSION OR ADJUST MY CLOTHES. AND I K,NOW THAT IF I WAS TO SAY SOMETING TO SOMEONE AT WORK I WOULD BE QUESTIONED ABOUT IT EVENTHOUGH IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORK. WHY IF I TAKE A LITTLE BREAK I HAVE TO BE ON CAMERA. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY KIND OF PRIVACY AT WORK. EVERY WHERE I WALK INSIDE THE OFFICE I´M ON CAMERA AND THE CAMERAS ARE VERY CLOSE TO MY FACE AND BODY. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IN THE FRONT COUNTER BUT THERES NO WHERE I CAN HIDE AN EXPRESSION OR ADJUST MY CLOTHES. AND I K,NOW THAT IF I WAS TO SAY SOMETING TO SOMEONE AT WORK I WOULD BE QUESTIONED ABOUT IT EVENTHOUGH IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORK. WHY IF I TAKE A LITTLE BREAK I HAVE TO BE ON CAMERA. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

]]> By: video surveillancehttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-25028 video surveillance Sun, 11 May 2008 20:37:01 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-25028 Hello, I like your blog and thought I would submit a post since, my business and blog is in the video surveillance and pos field so it pertains to yours at least somewhat. I just wrote an article on Video Surveillance called Video Surveillance Preparation. Here is an excerpt: With crime on the rise many people and business are looking for added security. Video surveillance is one the top ways to improve the security of your belongings and loved ones. I get asked alot about what is good or recommended and although each situation is different there are some common things to consider when showing a video surveillance system that will bring the required results. You have two basic kinds of video surveillance cameras, there are... You can read the rest here http://www.hivelocitynetworks.com/blog Feel free to post and let me know what you think. Thanks Hello, I like your blog and thought I would submit a post since, my business and blog is in the video surveillance and pos field so it pertains to yours at least somewhat. I just wrote an article on Video Surveillance called Video Surveillance Preparation. Here is an excerpt:

With crime on the rise many people and business are looking for added security. Video surveillance is one the top ways to improve the security of your belongings and loved ones. I get asked alot about what is good or recommended and although each situation is different there are some common things to consider when showing a video surveillance system that will bring the required results.

You have two basic kinds of video surveillance cameras, there are...

You can read the rest here http://www.hivelocitynetworks.com/blog

Feel free to post and let me know what you think. Thanks

]]> By: James Petershttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-24753 James Peters Sat, 03 May 2008 22:33:40 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-24753 @Digital Witness Surveillance: To me the operative phrase in your response is "nearly all business recordings" that "do[] not violate the personal privacy of the person being recorded". It is true that some courts have ruled the way you cite, but I see you are in Texas and may not know that in California our laws are somewhat unique. California's Constitution actually guarantees its citizens a right to privacy that applies to private employers, which the United States constitution does not. @Digital Witness Surveillance:

To me the operative phrase in your response is "nearly all business recordings" that "do[] not violate the personal privacy of the person being recorded".

It is true that some courts have ruled the way you cite, but I see you are in Texas and may not know that in California our laws are somewhat unique. California's Constitution actually guarantees its citizens a right to privacy that applies to private employers, which the United States constitution does not.

]]> By: Digital Witness Surveillancehttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-23680 Digital Witness Surveillance Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:20:23 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-23680 In dealing with video surveillance technology we have dealt with these legality issues: The owner of a business has the legal right to use surveillance video in all areas of the business, provided the video does not violate the personal privacy of the person being recorded. Courts have ruled that personal privacy typically extends to restrooms and dressing areas. In addition, some states have created statutes that prohibit recordings that are used for sexual purposes. As you can see, nearly all business recordings are legitimate and legal. In dealing with video surveillance technology we have dealt with these legality issues:

The owner of a business has the legal right to use surveillance video in all areas of the business, provided the video does not violate the personal privacy of the person being recorded. Courts have ruled that personal privacy typically extends to restrooms and dressing areas. In addition, some states have created statutes that prohibit recordings that are used for sexual purposes.

As you can see, nearly all business recordings are legitimate and legal.

]]> By: Maxhttp://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/comment-page-1/#comment-16032 Max Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:08:40 +0000 http://www.calemployeerightsblog.com/2007/01/12/qa-electronic-surveillance-at-work-often-illegal/#comment-16032 Interesting yet rather obvious answer to the question. I wonder how surveillance software fits into the pictue of the workplace tho... Spy software can really monitor every website you go to and the emails you send. This to me, is going beyond what most would expect to be reasonable expectation of privacy. Interesting yet rather obvious answer to the question.
I wonder how surveillance software fits into the pictue of the workplace tho...

Spy software can really monitor every website you go to and the emails you send. This to me, is going beyond what most would expect to be reasonable expectation of privacy.

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