Spy cameras in the workplace

[TrueBlueAngel]

I’m looking for some legal advice. I work as a nurse in a care home. We recently found out that the manager had installed cameras. We were never told about this until a member of staff saw more cameras going up and was fobbed off with them being wifi repeaters.
The manager (she is new in post) has since told staff that she had installed cameras and that these were now deactivated. The ‘wifi repeaters’ have been taken down. She said she had gone through legal channels to be able to install cameras.
No-one was told of cameras being installed and there is now a feeling of deceit and distrust towards the manager and unrest with the staff.
Just wondered if anyone has had anything similar in the workplace and what legally should have been done to inform the staff.

[lindylou46]

Not sure about the "hidden" aspect of installing cameras but on the other side of the coin many work places have active cameras.

[Brock]

If you do a good job why should you be worried?

[soooexcited!]

What is the reason being given for why they are there? Where have been installed? Is it for the safety of patients & staff? We've been asking for them for a while. We have them on the outside of the building but not around the waiting area and communal corridors where we would like. For us it's not about spying on staff more a safety aspect. I'd be happy to have them.

[TrueBlueAngel]

I don’t know the reason. It’s not about the cameras, it’s about the deceit, the not being told. And no, we’re not doing anything wrong, it’s just how we feel she went about it.
There must be something legal that’s amiss as to why the staff weren’t told.

[soooexcited!]

I agree that the staff should have been informed and I wouldn't like the fact I was told it was something to do with the wi fi. Have you asked why nobody was informed?

[Bad Pink Tink]

If you are in an European country what has happened is against GDPR Law. You should seek legal advice.

Under GDPR Law, CCTV, video monitoring, recording of images and sound is classed as data. Any workplace which has CCTV or video monitoring or records phone conversations must clearly inform employees and members of the public that such data is being collected, and the purpose of the data collection.

By law every place of business is required to have a GDPR Privacy Policy.

If a business is found to be in breach of GDPR , the fines can be up to 10% of annual turnover.

Seek legal advice ASAP from a specialists in GDPR breaches.

[kempydee]

I think from a GDPR perspective you should have been told? Or a least signage should be on display to inform staff/residents/visitors they are being filmed?

Perhaps if it’s a private car home and not local authority then the rules might be different? I agree though seems quite underhand that management didn’t inform anyone.

[ch1ps]

The links below might help.

From ACAS:
acas.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5721

From parliament (2018)
researchbriefings.parliament.../CDP-2018-0189

[soooexcited!]

I think from another perspective have the residents and relatives also not been notified? Where are they? There's also the confidentiality and privacy rules/laws too. Here lies all the reasons we haven't got them.