{"id":357912,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/workplace-privacy\/can-employers-use-video-cameras-to-monitor-workers.html"},"modified":"2024-05-17T16:03:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T21:03:00","slug":"can-employers-use-video-cameras-to-monitor-workers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/workplace-privacy\/can-employers-use-video-cameras-to-monitor-workers.html","title":{"rendered":"Can Employers Use Video Cameras to Monitor Workers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can Employers Use Video Cameras to Monitor Workers?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Many employers use video cameras to prevent internal theft, have a record of any employee accident or injury, and for security purposes. Most video surveillance in the workplace is permissible as long as employers notify workers about it.
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But there are some instances where surveillance isn’t allowed. For example, the law limits employers’ surveillance rights when recording union activity. Other state laws determine how and where employers can videotape workers. Federal wiretap law<\/a> prohibits the recording of certain oral communications. This is why surveillance cameras don’t have audio.<\/p>\r\n

This article outlines the legal reasons an employer can have a camera in the workplace. It also discusses relevant privacy laws and workplace surveillance.<\/p>\r\n

See the <\/span>Workplace Privacy<\/a> subsection of <\/span>Findlaw.com’s Small Business Law Center<\/a> for additional information.
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Lawful Use of Video Surveillance<\/h2>\r\n

Business owners must have a legitimate business reason for using video cameras to record employees. State privacy and federal laws determine which surveillance systems are lawful. Visit your state labor agency<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\r\n

Most of these laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act<\/a>, limit the use of cameras in the following places:<\/p>\r\n