Laws concerning the use of Surveillance Cameras in the workplace in NSW
Although it is quite obvious that the Australian population is quite entertained with the concept of Big Brother? in television programs, this simply cannot be applied in the workplace. We are all so interested in finding out how reality television shows record a persons day to day activities but when it comes to our own daily activities, we start to complain and assert our right to privacy. This is especially true in the workplace.
There have been a lot of concerns expressed by industrial experts and researchers that intrusive monitoring and surveillance in the workplace can result to a lot of problems. Experts say that the presence of Surveillance Cameras in the workplace will only bring about insecurity, self-consciousness, pressure, loss of trust and even dissatisfaction. People are likely to feel self-conscious when they know that they are being observed while working. In relation to this, call centers where strict monitoring and surveillance is implemented produce workers higher levels of depression, anxiety, tension and low productivity.
Most employees are against the use of security surveillance cameras because it inhibits them from doing personal or private activities such as adjusting their clothing, flirting, sleeping and other thing they consider to be too personal. However, employers have every right to manage the workplace and at the same time keep an eye on any unlawful or illegal activities that are happening at work. So as to address both competing interests, in 1998, the NSW Government implemented a new law called the Workplace Video Surveillance Act, designed primarily to restrict and control the use of surveillance camera systems at work.
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