Use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the Workplace :: Workplace Privacy Essays

Use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the WorkplaceIntroductionThe next generation approaching adulthood has a new repugn growing up during the technological revolution and believing being overseeed is way of life. Generation Y, as they are termed, will grow up thinking it is usual for video cameras to be on every street corner, at work, automatic teller machines, and one day in every home as a security device. They may grow up having Big Brother in the workplace applying constant pressure on them to prove they are productive. A 1998 horizon of 1,085 corporations conducted by the American Management Association shows more than 40 percent engaged in some kind of intrusive employee monitoring. Such monitoring includes checking of e-mail, piece mail and telephone conversations recording of computer keystrokes and video recording of job performance (Doyle p. 1). My goal is to inform the working population about electronic monitoring. The interrogative sentence I strive to answer, Will employees be monitored on closed circle television (CCTV) to determine their productivity or worth to the company and does this violate their seclusion?Information needed to understand the problem Big Brother in the WorkplaceBig Brother is the term used to describe the intent to monitor individuals for any potential wrongdoing. See Philip in Figure 1, who voluntarily installed a web cam in his office. What will it be like to live in a future where this is the norm? It is important to understand what closed circuit television is, what video surveillance is, and who is using the technology. What is closed circuit television (CCTV)?Closed circuit television is delimit as a television system that transmits images on a closed loop basis, where images are only available to those directly connected to the transmission system. The transmission of CCTV images may involve the use of coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, telephone lines, infrared, and radio transmission sy stems (CCTV Definitions).What is video surveillance?Video surveillance is defined as surveillance by CCTV for direct visual monitoring and/or recording of activities on premises or in a place (CCTV Definitions).why is video surveillance used in the workplace?Most companies implement video cameras to prevent theft or corporate espionage avoid legal problems collectable to employee actions, or to raise employee productivity. However, the potential for misuse is huge if the security staff does not implement guidelines. We rarely notice video cameras mounted near the entrances or exits of our offices, above coffee machines, or near copiers until we enter the security office and see the CCTVs monitoring the places we frequent during a regular business day.