| The loss of employee privacy rights in the workplace | | | | worker privacy in bathrooms and changing rooms- |
| is a growing concern among employees, attorneys, | | | | Publication of private employee matters- Disclosure of |
| and civil libertarian groups. Although employers in banks, | | | | medical records- Appropriation of an employee's |
| telecommunications, securities exchange, in hi-tech | | | | likeness for commercial purposes |
| industries, and in other workplaces justify using video | | | | In addition, video surveillance must be limited to visual |
| surveillance in the workplace to monitor employee | | | | images and cannot include audio in order to comply |
| behavior to chiefly promote safety, improve | | | | with federal and state statutes.Employers need to be |
| productivity, and stop theft, protecting employee | | | | proactive and aware of these four privacy violations |
| privacy must be a top concern. For if the courts find | | | | so that their employees' individual rights are respected |
| that the employer's surveillance methods are less than | | | | and protected.How to achieve balance between |
| fair, that firm may find itself knee-deep in lawsuits that | | | | monitoring and intruding upon employeesFirst, the |
| could have been prevented.Employers install hidden | | | | employers need to clarify what privacy rights |
| surveillance cameras for many good reasons | | | | employees are guaranteed and what constitutes an |
| (preventing theft, promoting productivity or protecting | | | | invasion of privacy. Then, employees must be notified |
| employees) that in some cases will intrude upon | | | | in writing that surveillance will be conducted and they |
| employee privacy. Legal observers and human | | | | should also sign a waiver verifying that they know |
| resource specialists who study workplace privacy | | | | they may be monitored.Management must define |
| believe that employee privacy intrusions are more | | | | what is acceptable supervision versus "snoopervision" |
| common than previously observed, and that they will | | | | and that includes not videotaping showers, restrooms, |
| increase every year.According to a 2005 survey | | | | changing rooms, smoking areas, and employee |
| conducted by the American Management Association, | | | | lounges. These are places specifically for employees' |
| more than half of the companies surveyed use video | | | | personal comfort, health or for safeguarding their |
| monitoring to prevent theft, violence and sabotage | | | | possessions. However, employers must also be |
| (51% in 2005 vs. 33% in 2001). In addition, the number | | | | sensitive against using video surveillance in other areas |
| of companies that use video surveillance to track | | | | where employees might takes breaks.Employers must |
| employees' performance has also increased, with 10% | | | | be fully aware of the privacy risks associated with |
| now videotaping selected job functions and 6% | | | | videotaping employees so that the likelihood of litigation |
| videotaping all employees. Among firms that use video | | | | is reduced. Companies should also nurture a workplace |
| surveillance, 85% notify employees.As more and more | | | | environment where employees can voice privacy or |
| employee groups become aware of how they are | | | | security concerns in confidence with management |
| being watched, the more likely they will take their | | | | without feeling that their conversations are being |
| employers to court.These are the four main types of | | | | monitored. In short, if employers choose to use video |
| court-upheld privacy violations that could occur in | | | | surveillance in the workplace, they must adhere to |
| stores, factories and offices and the first type is | | | | written privacy guidelines that will keep employees |
| directly related to video surveillance. | | | | secure and that will also respect their privacy.Copyright |
| - Intrusion upon seclusion which includes invading | | | | © 2005 Evaluseek Publishing. |