It is not possible to monitor everything going on around your business at any given time. Therefore, to ensure overall safety and security of your business, a video surveillance system may be your best bet. According to a survey by the American Management Association, 48 percent of employers use cameras and video surveillance in the workplace. But is it advisable or legal to install surveillance cameras in your office?
Issues of legality
Different states have different policies regarding the legality of the use of cameras and video surveillance in the job environment. Most states have it that cameras should only be placed in public areas such as the hallways but not in employee cubicles or lounges. Employees have been awarded a particular measure of privacy in areas such as locker rooms and restrooms. Your camera policies should not violate this regulation.
Therefore, before installing surveillance cameras, seek the services of an occupational lawyer to avoid being entangled in employee privacy cases. After clearing that out, let’s now look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of having surveillance cameras in your office.
Advantages
1. Security cameras keep devious employees in check
It goes without saying that a surveillance system reduces vandalism and theft by bad employees. Statistics from the US Chamber of Commerce reveal that employee theft costs companies between $20 and $40 billion annually. If you have had cases of missing items in your office, it would be a great idea to install a security camera system. Consequently, it is a polite way of tackling office theft rather than opening up an investigation on all your employees thus undermining their morale.
2. Promotes adherence to company laws and regulations
Every company has a set of goals that have to be followed to help it achieve its overall goals. Watching CCTV footage of how your staff carried out their tasks on a given day will show you whether or not they adhered to the set regulations. It will also allow you to enforce customer support policies that will help you maintain loyal clients.
3. Monitoring employee work ethic
Cases of harassment at the workplace, either sexual or otherwise, are not uncommon in the work environment. As an employer, when such an incident happens under you docket, you will be held accountable by the court of law. You can avoid these embarrassing scenarios by having a CCTV system installed in your office.
Disadvantages
Once you set out to install security cameras in your office, you are likely to create an air of distrust in your employees that will eventually affect their performance and retention. Research shows employees work best in an environment where they can think and act freely. Having cameras in the office will keep them constantly monitoring every step they take and every decision they make. Eventually, this leads to low productivity.
Another downside to a security camera system is that it creates a false sense of security. You are likely to disregard other security measures having the thought that the cameras will do the trick. Devious employees may use that against you.
Interested in setting up a surveillance system for your business? Give TC Tech Systems a call and get on the right track to a more successful business.
