Filmed and photographed by colleague

1886

Hi, just after some advice as I'm not sure what to do next

Yesterday I found out that somebody I work with has filmed me whilst we were at work and also taken some photos of me and then sent it all to some of the other employees with some music added

I haven't seen the film or photos myself but what I do know is that's its basically poking fun at me. It was via Snapchat I think and I believe the app to delete things once you've watched them, not sure as I don't have it

I think it was just a one off thing but if it happens again I don't want to be in the situation where I'm asked why I didn't bring it to light the first time. I have got a sense of humour but I'm not happy that I've been filmed and photographed without my knowledge

I'm thinking along the lines of an email to HR to just let them know. I'm happy for it to not go any further than that on this occasion as I think it was just a one off thing but I want them to have a record of it

Opinions please

Undervalued

1886 wrote: »

Hi, just after some advice as I'm not sure what to do next

Yesterday I found out that somebody I work with has filmed me whilst we were at work and also taken some photos of me and then sent it all to some of the other employees with some music added

I haven't seen the film or photos myself but what I do know is that's its basically poking fun at me. It was via Snapchat I think and I believe the app to delete things once you've watched them, not sure as I don't have it

I think it was just a one off thing but if it happens again I don't want to be in the situation where I'm asked why I didn't bring it to light the first time. I have got a sense of humour but I'm not happy that I've been filmed and photographed without my knowledge

I'm thinking along the lines of an email to HR to just let them know. I'm happy for it to not go any further than that on this occasion as I think it was just a one off thing but I want them to have a record of it

Opinions please

Leaving aside the employment aspect for a moment, if you were in a public place there would be nothing you could do about it. Broadly, even with the evolving judge made privacy laws, you do not need somebody's permission to take a photograph of them. In fact in many ways the photographer has more rights if he does not have their permission!

However the behaviour of one colleague to another, in a work environment, may be another matter. Initially it may be best to simply explain politely to the individual that you do not appreciate this and ask him not to do it again.

If that fails then it is maybe time to speak to his superior.

Bogalot

If you inform HR they will investigate. They cannot simply accept your version of what happened, they would need to speak to all involved. Also they are there to protect the employer from tribunal claims, and to ignore a report of bullying would leave them open to a claim.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't report it, we don't have enough information to advise on that. If you do, you need to be aware that matters will be taken further.

Zeni

I would report it, at work that sort of behaviour is really not acceptable and if anything just not kind. Like Undervalued said, outside of work you would find it hard do much about it but if they have filmed it at work during time they are employed they must be breaking some rule in their contract.
If you know about it, that means someone has seen it or knows about it and told you so even though it may be deleted there are witnesses.
It's up to you, but if you let this one go your setting an atmosphere that its ok for them to act like jerks.

aife

one off or not , that is totally inappropriate behaviour towards a colleague and quite nasty.
Do you have a sympathetic senior person you can raise it with informally ?

Kayalana99

Undervalued wrote: »

Leaving aside the employment aspect for a moment, if you were in a public place there would be nothing you could do about it. Broadly, even with the evolving judge made privacy laws, you do not need somebody's permission to take a photograph of them. In fact in many ways the photographer has more rights if he does not have their permission!

However the behaviour of one colleague to another, in a work environment, may be another matter. Initially it may be best to simply explain politely to the individual that you do not appreciate this and ask him not to do it again.

If that fails then it is maybe time to speak to his superior.

It depends where they work, but very limited work places would be classed as a public place. Normally a business is a private place as it's privatly owned.

martinsurrey

Kayalana99 wrote: »

It depends where they work, but very limited work places would be classed as a public place. Normally a business is a private place as it's privatly owned.

Its not about public vs private, its about expectation of privacy.

I doubt anyone could have an expectation of privacy in an open plan office, or office kitchen, maybe more so in a personal office with the blinds drawn.

This is more likely an HR issue on bullying, rather than in invasion of privacy issue.

TBagpuss

I would speak to your HR person.
They will talk you through the options.
It may be that they will tell you that if you want them to address it, then you need to make your complaint formal, and they will then investigate.
It may bethat they will say that becuase ofthe risk to the company of this type of behaviour they will investigate anyway.
It may be that they will suggest that they create / update / remind people of internal policies and make clear that this isn't OK - in which case they wouldn't ned to name you but of course people may work out who complained.

If you know who did it then you could speak to them directly.

The dificulty your employer would have is that if you tell them'informally' and say you don't want to make a formal complaint, it is very dificultfor them to do naything at all, as they can't ake action against another member of staff without that person having the opportunity to respond to any allegation. So you might be able to say "As far as I know this was a one off, so I'm not making a complaint" but of you do that, they almost certainly would not be able to say ything to those responsible.

I think some of this is 'know your workplace'. If you think that the preson responsible did it as a joke and didn't intend to do something upsetting then it may be that the low key approach of speaking to them or asking your manager to do so without involving any greivance or other policy may be best.
If it's part of a bigger picture and you feel that it was designed to undermine you then I would say report it formally and let your employers deal with it as bullying/harassment. (and you can say to them that you would be happy with it being resolved with an apology and confirmation it wn't happen again)

libramoon175

Could you not speak to the person who allegedly filmed you in the first instance? It may be that they thought they were having a friendly joke, and didn't realise you wouldn't appreciate it. If you let them know you don't want that to happen again and weren't comfortable with it, they might not do it again. And if it happens again, take it to HR. But at least then you can say, this is not the first occasion and I asked them not to do it last time. ?

Fireflyaway

I'd speak to the person who did it. Is there anyway you can see it? I don't understand this technology! Tell them its not acceptable and see what the reaction is. I think it depends what was in the video. If its making fun of you in certain ways it could even be illegal. If the person reacts badly I'd go to hr. Do you normally get on with this person? Seems a weird thing to do.

Murielson

How did you find out - third party, other employee in same company?

If things have been shared then more may have been shared with others that you know nothing about. This is a form of bullying they are making fun of you and definitely confirmed. I would speak to someone in HR or management confidentially to get a view, even if it is along the lines of 'what would happen if you found out that someone had taken photos etc, etc......'