Arnold DavisInstalling closed circuit television is a widespread method of monitoring and supervising staff members by businesses. According to a 2015 survey by the American Management Association, 51 percent of businesses used video monitoring to protect their assets and prevent crime. However, not all CCTV methods are effective or moral. Some covert CCTV practices may even go against the human rights of your employees and threaten the bond of trust between staff and management in your company.
Step 1
Analyze the needs if your company needs a CCTV system. Take into account the pros and cons a CCTV monitoring system provides your business. Besides potentially damaging your relationship with your employees, the cost of installing and manning a surveillance program may outweigh the protection it provides.
Step 2
Select the locations best suited for CCTV cameras in your business. Choose public areas where the cameras are clearly visible. Avoid areas where employers can reasonably expect privacy, such as toilets and changing rooms.
Step 3
Inform your employees that CCTV cameras have been installed by publishing a corporate policy and circulating it as a memo to all workers. Explain the reason for the cameras and try to allay any feelings of mistrust their use may create. Restrict the use of hidden cameras to circumstances you have solid evidence that a crime is being committed or your employees may have grounds to claim you are infringing unnecessarily on their privacy.
Step 4
Determine how to monitor your CCTV cameras. You can choose to hire staff to actively monitor the images generated by the cameras or to simply record and review them only if you suspect foul-play or a crime has been committed.
Things You’ll Need CCTV cameras
CCTV monitoring equipment
Company Policy memo
Warnings
In many countries recording the voices of your employees and clients without their express permission is illegal. In these cases make sure the audio capabilities of your CCTV are disconnected.