legality surveillance Camera IN SEMI PRIVATE OFFICE
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legality surveillance Camera IN SEMI PRIVATE OFFICE
I currently work in a construction admin position as a sales assistant. My day-to-day task vary due to the ups and down of the business, I came into work Friday morning to find a survalence camera install in my semi private office above my desk looking down on me. It is directly above me, I have not been notified that a camera would be installed. I am sure it is to monitor what is being done on company time but I feel a bit violated as where the placement of the camera is. It is directly above me to an angle that 1. Is a intrusion of privacy 2. I feel violated as if i wear a lower cut shirt that you could see directly down my
shirt. What is the legality of this?
Asked on October 17, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Leaving the low-cut shirt issue aside for the moment, an obvious camera--so one that has given you notice that it is there; i.e. you are aware of it and so are not being filmed surreptitiously--is legal in the workplace, other than in places where a person is in a state of undress or changing (e.g. restrooms, locker rooms, space for nursing mothers, etc.). It would be legal in a semi-private office: since the office is semi-private, you do not have an legitimate or protected expectation of full privacy and should not, for example, be changing in your semi-private office.
If the camera is at an angle where it would reasonably or expectedly capture shots down your shirt IF you are wearing office appropriate clothing, you could ask them to relocate or re-aim it--it can't be used for inappropriate videos or stills. But if you would be ok when wearing office-appropriate clothes, then they don't have to move it to accommodate inappropriate clothing.
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