Today is my last day at work. I work at Baskin Robbins. I quit for reasons other than I got bored, I don't like my boss, or I don't get paid enough money.
Several weeks ago, the owner installed another camera in the store (we already had three). The live video feed can be accessed anywhere with internet with a password. At first it made me feel safer. As the days passed, I realized that the cameras were put there so our bosses could keep an eye on us. Fine. So I'm working with the radio turned on as it always is, and my coworker and I do a silly dance. Riiiing. "Hello?" I answer the phone. It's my boss. I'm not allowed to dance. I felt a little creeped out. Yeah. Wouldn't you? They'd call at least once every shift. Sometimes I forgot to put out the "Caution: Wet" sign out or my coworker's boyfriend stayed too long. We also have a camera in the back room. So, is that for "security" too? On another night, we got another call, just to check up on us (even though they could see us). They laughed and said they were watching us right now. "They" being the family. They were all having dinner and watching us work. Now, the whole family isn't my boss, just my boss is my boss.
And you'd think this would be breaking some kind of law. But no. It's not. But is it morally right? You tell me.
Surveillance used for more than security reasons is becoming more and more common in the workplace. Reader's Digest just published a story on this. As a worker, this is wrong. What do you think?
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That is messed up in so many levels. I think the owner was paranoid. I'm guessing something must've happened to him/her before. So this time around, your boss is keeping close watch on you and everything else that's going on around. It is a good thing in a way that if something happens, your boss has the cameras to every event...if her records them that is. My dad used to bring home tapes of his old store and watched them at fast forward speed. Believe it or not, he caught his workers stealing and fooling around a lot. So I don't know, workers feel that it's invading their privacy while the boss thinks it keeping an eye on everything. But your situation is really creepy. I would probably quit too. lol
I've experienced this with employers while I do computer work. they can actually log on and see whats going on on your computer screens now days. If you work on computers, be careful about paying bills or entering your bank account information. You could "legally" lose everything if the person watching isn't an honest person. I'd also be worried about the young ladies in your shop. They would never know if the person watching them is interested in more than just whether she is working or not. it is a strange and disguisting world.