Consent of Employee to be Monitored and Recorded for Security Purposes Pursuant to Closed Circuit Video Surveillance - CCTV

The 4th and 14th amendment provides the constitutional basis for the right of privacy for public employees (e.g., federal, state, county and municipal). However, these amendments do not apply to employees in the private sector. Employee rights in the private sector are covered by states statutes, case law and collective bargaining agreements.

The Federal Wiretapping Act provides that it is unlawful to intercept oral or electronic communications. Both criminal and civil penalties are provided for by this Act. There are two exceptions:

a. An employer can monitor his/her/its telephones in the ordinary course of business through the use of extension telephone; and

b. An employer can monitor employee communications with the employee=s consent. Consent may be established by prior written notice to employees of the employer's monitoring policy. Consent signed by the employee is preferable.

The same principles should apply to video surveillance. (more...)