ANNOUNCER: I’m here with Christian Jannetta from Cohen Highley Lawyers. Do employers have a right to install cameras in the workplace?
CHRISTIAN: They do, but under specific criteria. First, there must be a valid purpose for the camera. For example, having a camera in a bank lobby has obvious safety benefits, so there’s clearly a valid reason there. Before installing a camera, an employer should ensure that other less intrusive options aren’t sufficient.
ANNOUNCER: What else?
CHRISTIAN: Employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy and so must be aware the camera and its coverage area.
ANNOUNCER: Anything else?
CHRISTIAN: The areas covered by cameras should be limited as much as possible to achieve only the valid purpose for the camera and nothing else. An employee who works in a public area, such as a reception or lobby area, would have less of an expectation of privacy than one who works in a private office. So, this would have to be taken into consideration.
