Can employers make you use a camera when you work from home. 25 October 2022 at 9:35AM in Employment, jobseeking & training 58 replies 9.5K views

DE_612183

If this is the way an employer treats their employee's then I they will behave badly in other ways - not somewhere I would want to work.

MalMonroe

Hi, I'm with you, I would be really unhappy about this. For two reasons.

One, they never mentioned the big brother thing when you were appointed and
two, they don't trust you, or anyone else in their employ.

What do they think you're going to do? Or not do?

If an employer didn't trust me to get on with work just because they couldn't see me, then I'd be looking around for a better alternative.

My daughter has worked solely from home in a part-time capacity for an international successful organisation for a few years now and she doesn't have to have a camera on. Her working T&Cs are excellent, she's very much appreciated and she's paid exceptionally well. She can work in her PJs if she wants to (nobody should be ashamed of that) and it's something she really appreciates as she suffers from a long term disabling illness and doesn't always have to worry about 'looking smart in the workplace'. It doesn't matter. She works hard and reaps the rewards. And that's really what employment should be about. You work hard and you are rewarded. No spy in the sky, or anywhere else. 

I'm retired now and self-employed (fabulous boss, btw) but even when I was out there in the workplace I was allowed to get on with it without any bosses hovering over me. If any boss doubts your honesty and integrity then it's not a good atmosphere.

It is possible to find employers who don't live in a Dickensian fashion.  

At any future interview I'd ask if the employer expected me to work under a camera all day long before I asked any other question. But I would be looking around to see what else is out there. 

Of course this is all my own opinion. (And I think your employers are ludicrous.)

Savvy_Sue

Are you in a union? I wouldn't want to try to force this issue on my own. 

And if they're insisting on cameras on all the time, what policies have they put in place regarding this? This is draft guidance from the ICO, might its requirements concentrate their minds?

Catsacor

Probably, the, previous, actions/conduct of some employees has now created a need for this course of action by the employer.
As an employer i understand this.

sammyjammy

I have to say not sure I would be terribly comfortable with this, if you are in the office nobody is sitting staring at your face all day but they could be at the other end of that tablet!  Its just awkward!

elsien

Catsacor said:

Probably, the, previous, actions/conduct of some employees has now created a need for this course of action by the employer.
As an employer i understand this.

Then surely it’s the actions of those individuals that need to be addressed, not everyone? 

I work from home, I work hard and I get my work done and exceed expectations. There might be times when I don’t start till late but I finish late to make up for it. Sticking in a camera would be counter-productive because it will be more likely to make me work to rule and demotivate me. 

DE_612183

Catsacor said:

Probably, the, previous, actions/conduct of some employees has now created a need for this course of action by the employer.
As an employer i understand this.

Yes, I can also understand from an employers POV, however said employer should make the working conditions crystal clear at interview stage, and be prepared that many better qualified people will turn them down.

It's a workers market at the moment so they will get the type of employees that they deserve.

Undervalued

Davearia said:

Firstly, thanks for confirming that in the eyes of employment law, my employer is totally within their right to make me use a camera in my own home. This was not a rhetorical question I wasn't sure either way and this post clears things up for me.

Secondly, prior to this job I've worked remotely for 7 years in companies who just insist of webcams and cameras where needed like meetings and daily stand ups to update on progress and report any blockers. In those 7 years, I've always been professional and know from my 121s etc that my management have never had issues about me being deceptive let alone where my wife's dresses. Without surveillance I've just done my job as expected. That in my opinion is a reasonable way to be expected to work.

Thirdly looking at some replies to this post, some people feel it's me that has a problem with being on camera and I'm making a big fuss over nothing. Other replies I can them totally understanding how I dread this camera being in my home office, it does smack of a lack of trust. Although everybody else remote working for my current employer on the face out at least seems to have no issues with it, I do.

Lastly, like Ath_Wat I'm in a job market where demand out strips supply and I'm pretty decent at what I do. So I will go ahead and set up this this tablet albeit a very poor angle of me and let my manager know that I'm totally unhappy with it and quite possibly will weigh up my options. January is the purple path for job hunting.

But your help has given me clarity of the situation so many thanks all.

What do you think that will achieve?

If it bothers you enough to make you look for another job then by all means do so. Employment is a two way process and both the employee and the employer need to find the terms acceptable.

At the moment you have no job security and could be "let go" just by giving you one week's notice (unless your contract requires more). It is normally much easier to secure another job when currently employed rather than unemployed. Also, any prospective employer is likely to want a reference from your most recent employer. There is no legal requirement for them to provide one and the myth that an employer "can't give a bad reference" is just that - a myth! 

So, why poke the bear?

Davearia

Undervalued said:

Davearia said:

Firstly, thanks for confirming that in the eyes of employment law, my employer is totally within their right to make me use a camera in my own home. This was not a rhetorical question I wasn't sure either way and this post clears things up for me.

Secondly, prior to this job I've worked remotely for 7 years in companies who just insist of webcams and cameras where needed like meetings and daily stand ups to update on progress and report any blockers. In those 7 years, I've always been professional and know from my 121s etc that my management have never had issues about me being deceptive let alone where my wife's dresses. Without surveillance I've just done my job as expected. That in my opinion is a reasonable way to be expected to work.

Thirdly looking at some replies to this post, some people feel it's me that has a problem with being on camera and I'm making a big fuss over nothing. Other replies I can them totally understanding how I dread this camera being in my home office, it does smack of a lack of trust. Although everybody else remote working for my current employer on the face out at least seems to have no issues with it, I do.

Lastly, like Ath_Wat I'm in a job market where demand out strips supply and I'm pretty decent at what I do. So I will go ahead and set up this this tablet albeit a very poor angle of me and let my manager know that I'm totally unhappy with it and quite possibly will weigh up my options. January is the purple path for job hunting.

But your help has given me clarity of the situation so many thanks all.

What do you think that will achieve?

If it bothers you enough to make you look for another job then by all means do so. Employment is a two way process and both the employee and the employer need to find the terms acceptable.

At the moment you have no job security and could be "let go" just by giving you one week's notice (unless your contract requires more). It is normally much easier to secure another job when currently employed rather than unemployed. Also, any prospective employer is likely to want a reference from your most recent employer. There is no legal requirement for them to provide one and the myth that an employer "can't give a bad reference" is just that - a myth! 

So, why poke the bear?

I have no intention of just leaving or getting myself sacked. Not throwing the baby out with the bath water. But also not going to work in an environment that I'm uncomfortable with. For the short term I will use the tablet, but if as I suspect I'm not happy with it, I'll patiently look at other roles until one comes up that takes my fancy.

I'm totally respectful to my employers and offer good service to them, but on the other hand I'm not just going to scurry away in a corner and "do as I'm told".

grahamgoo

If the requirement is to have the tablet + webcam on constantly during working hours, where management can just start watching whenever they like, I would totally sympathise with this, and would be equally troubled by it.
But I am wondering, is that actually what they are saying?  Or could it be that they just want the team to get together on a video call every so often?
Personally I'd be tempted to suggest or organise a 15 or 30 minute daily team video call to discuss the days objectives / check how everyone is, have a chat etc etc, then outside of those calls and other pre-arranged meetings just turn the tablet off and see if anyone says anything more.
I was a bit confused though - are you doing your main work from a separate laptop/device, and this tablet has been provided for the sole purpose of acting as a webcam?