Avoiding problems when installing CCTV in the workplace

In this article we aren't concerning ourselves with the actual CCTV equipment or specific environment it's fitted in, more the impact it can have on the workforce if handled incorrectly.

The immediate assumption of an employee when they see the boss installing CCTV is the Chiefs don't trust the Indians and that can lead to resentment. After all if you are a loyal employee and have worked hard for the firm why should you suddenly need spying on?

Of course it depends on the industry. Someone working in a bank, jewellers or casino would be surprised if there wasn't CCTV installed but shops, offices and industrial workers might not immediately expect it. The trick is to be open with your workforce. Tell them why you are installing CCTV.

Explain why you are installing CCTV

You might be installing CCTV to protect against theft after close of business. Many offices get broken into for their computer equipment as an example and you might be trying to protect against that.

In an industrial manufacturing company you may want to install CCTV to protect against material and tool thefts outside working hours, a garage workshop might want to protect against tools being stolen. The garage is quite a good example of how you can actually turn a potential negative of workers thinking you are spying on them into a positive, by installing CCTV you are helping to protect their own personal tools from being stolen.

There will be times when you are installing CCTV to keep an eye on potential theft or other undesirable activity from the workforce. If you have a transient workforce with temporary staff then it is probably not so much of an issue and might even be expected. Once again workers within some industries are more open to having CCTV in the workplace than others. Shops and pubs or clubs are places where CCTV is commonplace but even here it is important to make staff understand that CCTV isn't just there to spy.

CCTV protects as well as prosecutes

If you are monitoring a till position as an example CCTV is there to protect a staff member against a false accusation from a customer of which bank note was tendered as much as it is to ensure the staff aren't trying to skim money. It is also there to protect staff from violent or aggressive customers. Your motives might be mixed in wanting to install CCTV but try to win your staff over to the idea rather than have them see it as CCTV big brother watching over them.

It may be that you are installing CCTV to avoid unfounded third party claims against the company. Someone parking in your car park claims an employee caused damage to their car. The CCTV shows no one went anywhere near the car and so you can prove the damage was inflicted elsewhere. Once again you are actually protecting your employees.

CCTV as a training aid

The world of commerce is a hard one and the recent economic climate world-wide has meant only the strongest survive. We have all seen competitors go to the wall in recent months and those that remain have to work hard. Our experience is that employees know it's hard out there and actually want to do everything they can to ensure the survival and prosperity of their employer. CCTV can help to train people. It's a great way to mentor staff and encouraging them to develop their customer skills.

When a customer comes in does everyone just sit there ignoring them, are they giving off any negative signs with their body language? Because CCTV is invisible most of the time it allows you to be a fly on the wall. If you stand in the corner watching everybody plays their A game but what happens on a day to day basis. Once again, work with staff, explain why you are installing CCTV and work alongside your team to improve things, don't just focus on the bad things and lay blame at people's feet. It may have been your fault for letting things slip to the extent they did.

The nasty side of CCTV

There may be times when you have to install CCTV to catch people out. Those people are never going to warm to the introduction of CCTV. On a recent housing project we worked on CCTV was being used to stop property damage by a small minority of residents. Guess who the only people were who vocalised their feelings against having CCTV installed! It went ahead and the damage stopped.

If there is a problem of theft in the workplace then innocent workers will realise that the business suffers as a result. It may even be that they have known about the problem but didn't want to come forward for fear of being bullied or blacklisted, once again the people you really want to support are being helped by the use of CCTV.

Overt or covert CCTV

This is a decision only you will be able to make. There is a distinct difference between openly fitting CCTV and fitting it without the knowledge of others. Rules and regulations must be adhered to and in some instances fitting covert CCTV may offend your staff, although once again those with their fingers in the till are likely to be offended the most.

CCTV can be a very emotive subject and one the press love to have their play with it every now and again. The trick is to realise the potential for an emotional reaction, install wisely and nip any potential ill feeling in the bud before it has time to take hold.