Cctv in work and the law/advice.

skunkwerx

So looking for a bit of advice. 

I work in a shop, smallish, not like tescos etc. Have been here for 10+ years. 

Now a frequent comment always made by any 'management' or sales assistants who think theyre management is 'Stop talking, the managers watching you on the cameras. 


Theres about 9 cctv cameras on the shop floor, with the monitor out the back in the managers office. So its more frequently used for spying on staff than crime/public safety. 

The reason I'm concerned about this is that I'm particularly/often singled out, even at times I'm actually discussing work with another colleague on my section!  

It appears any talking between staff, no matter how dead the shop floor is, is banned. 
I get that obviously you can't stand around chatting all day, which I don't, so its a non issue.

However I see managers do it, other members of staff etc, because hell, its normal to have a quick catch up or chat with your colleagues right.   

So, I couldnt find much in the way of info as to whether they are legally allowed to spy on staff via cctv just for the reason of seeing if you are talking. 

I seem to recall reading that the cctv systems can only be used for their designated purpose? 

We have a sign up on the shop floor which states 'cctv in operation for the prevention of theft/crime and public safety'. 

Before emailing the data protection officer and recieving a probable bullshit reply, I wonder if y'all would know anything about it? 

Again I'm cool with it, if they legally can, because I hit my targets, customers always come first etc and my work is always done. My personal feelings aside (i think its bullshit). 

What gets my goat is that these people try it, on all manner of things, and I'm usually the only one who isnt afraid to rock the boat and assert my rights. 

So this is something I meant to look into too!

darthed1981

We put CCTV in where I work to stop people nicking things, and went to great pains to let everyone know we were not using it to spy on them!

It sounds like a fairly poisonous use of the technology, why isn't your manager out there motivating the team if he has time to stare at cameras?  If you are all being watched and told off for a quick natter, then how are you going to be smiling when Mr Customer walks in?

Legally, only human rights legislation really applies, and that really only replies to covert surveillance, you know you are being watched, so it isn't covert. 

However, if you feel you are being singled out for any unfair reason and left the job as a result, then the company could end up taking a bath in a tribunal if you have been there for that long.

EricTheWeary

They aren’t covertly watching you, watching you in inappropriate places ( like the toilets or rest areas) and if they weren’t watching you via camera there might be someone stood there watching you anyway. It’s a bit of a specialist area but I doubt that they are breaking the law. Not exactly great management though. 

In a previous job I used to use CCTV footage for quality control/ training purposes. Very much an expectation of the work although I don’t think anybody really liked the process. It’s an instant barrier between you and anybody you supervise. 

Modulus_Amps

excessive talking is a problem, but if the job is getting done then no one would have a problem, so either you are not doing all you have been asked to do, you are distracting others from doing their duties, you have not had clear instruction as to what you are meant to be doing or most likely there is some other issue and this is the fruit of it.

skunkwerx

darthed1981 said:

We put CCTV in where I work to stop people nicking things, and went to great pains to let everyone know we were not using it to spy on them!

It sounds like a fairly poisonous use of the technology, why isn't your manager out there motivating the team if he has time to stare at cameras?  If you are all being watched and told off for a quick natter, then how are you going to be smiling when Mr Customer walks in?

Legally, only human rights legislation really applies, and that really only replies to covert surveillance, you know you are being watched, so it isn't covert. 

However, if you feel you are being singled out for any unfair reason and left the job as a result, then the company could end up taking a bath in a tribunal if you have been there for that long.

Cheers. Thats as I thought tbh. 

You hit the nail on the head also. 

They have time to do all that whilst grilling the lower staff over small details, and its horribly demoralising. We're a store that frequently wins top of the shop awards in our company, so we quite obviously get our work done, always stop immediately to assist customers etc, and consistantly hit our exceptional service feedbacks.. 

I just don't know why such a dictatorial management style is preferred, when its proven to lower morale and not get the best from each staff member.

I'm quite resilient to it, I know I'm good and don't take the piss, but I worry for others and also sometimes think to myself, no, this isnt on, we could make this an exceptional place to work with a more laid back approach, which our customers would in turn also enjoy. 

Maybe theyre scared we will just take the piss and therefore targets not get hit.. but we're all long serving staff, they should know us better!

skunkwerx

Thanks though man, that was an encouraging reply  

Sporky

skunkwerx said:

Now a frequent comment always made by any 'management' or sales assistants who think theyre management is 'Stop talking, the managers watching you on the cameras. 

One might consider replying "They're watching you too. I'm not the one who needs to worry."

RandallFlagg

Ask the employer to show you their registration with the Information Commissioners Office and that they conform to the code of practice and the law. All CCTV that can capture images of members of the public must register with the ICO and are subject to the Data Protection Act.

If they are not registered they are potentially breaking the law.

https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/cctv/

Adam_MD

Google gdpr  that replaced the data protection act earlier this year.  

RandallFlagg

Adam_MD said:

Google gdpr  that replaced the data protection act earlier this year.  

It's still called The Data Protection Act 2018 which encompasses GDPR

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted

Reverend

I suspect they may be breaking the law. 
At my work we cannot access the cctv unless a crime has occurred.

shuikit

I'm no expert but I was also thinking that this might come under GDPR, your face is personally identifiable data, they are storing it (as they are watching it back) so then they must have your explicit consent to do so.

ICBM

skunkwerx

Modulus_Amps said:

excessive talking is a problem, but if the job is getting done then no one would have a problem, so either you are not doing all you have been asked to do, you are distracting others from doing their duties, you have not had clear instruction as to what you are meant to be doing or most likely there is some other issue and this is the fruit of it.

True. Though my pdr's are always spot on, never so much as a single verbal warning in 10 years... 

Though I got told off for 'popping to make a coffee' the other week. 

Its not like I did it when it was busy either... ah, retail though I guess, same in every chain I imagine. 

Thanks for all the info guys!

Snags

This might just be a combination of the phrasing in the OP and my naturally cynical nature but ... are you sure they actually are watching you, or is it just somebody who thinks they're The (wo)Man trying to exert leverage/appeal to authority when actually management aren't doing any such thing?

As in, obviously the CCTV covers the working areas, so they have the capability to do it. But that doesn't mean they necessarily are. Just that someone's trying to muscle you by putting the frighteners on.

usedtobe

Part of your first post (being singled out?) makes me think maybe your face just doesn’t fit, in spite of being good at your job.. or you’re a bit paranoid..?

ESBlonde

It's one of lifes ironies.

Outgoing chatty people make great store sales staff, but they are not allowed to be outgoing chatty personalities except when engaged in direct customer interface!

I wonder if the line management were 'promoted' out of the job because they are not very good at it?

Phil_aka_Pip

ESBlonde said:

I wonder if the line management were 'promoted' out of the job because they are not very good at it?

That must explain quite a few promotions. Another explanation is the Peter Principle.

skunkwerx

Haha yeah true, I believe it is just a scare tactic 90% of the time. 

I have seen the manager watch previous days/nights back at times, to see what people were up to based on a lack of stock having been put out or something.. so I know it does happen.. 

Ah my face certainly doesnt fit though!
 
I'm a pretty solitary kind of guy.
Not through choice, I'm outgoing and humorous, but people just dont like me/I dont attract people/Can't make friends etc.. always been that way.. 

But combine that with being the first to call people out on their bollocks, or ahem, simply stick up for oneself, that makes me not a likeable chap amongst colleagues who would rather suffer in silence to avoid confrontation with the overlords! 

Thing's'll change next year, I need a career change anyway! 

Funkfingers

Retail "productivity" is difficult to compare directly against, say, a manufacturing production line. Sales staff have to respond to customer demand. Hence, there will be slack periods during the working day. 

darthed1981 said:

We put CCTV in where I work to stop people nicking things

This is normal practice. In the event of a theft, CCTV recordings can be drawn upon to show who stole what and when. The cameras ought to be aimed at the stock and the entrance(s) rather than the staff. 

Under normal circumstances, the CCTV recorder overwrites new images into hard drive space previously occupied by earlier recordings. It is up to management to decide how many days into the past the images are retained. When they're gone, they're gone.

skunkwerx said:

It appears any talking between staff, no matter how dead the shop floor is, is banned. 

"It appears" is not good enough. If your management has any sort of no idle chit chat policy, they should put it in writing.

If your store management does distribute a working directive such as this in writing, you might want to consult your union or local Citizens' Advice Bureau.

skunkwerx said:

I hit my targets, customers always come first etc and my work is always done. 

This is the name of the game. If you are shifting units, your supervision and management should be content with your work.

skunkwerx said:

What gets my goat is that these people try it, on all manner of things, and I'm usually the only one who isn't afraid to rock the boat and assert my rights. 

Does "these people" refer to your management or some of your shop floor work colleagues? In any workplace, there will always be rumourmongers, willing to put colleagues down in an attempt to advance their own careers. The signs by which you may detect them are brown noses and/or tongues.

thumpingrug

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/monitoring-at-work/