Business security cameras are pivotal to keep your business, assets, employees, and customers safe. However, there are some gray areas regarding the legality and usage of business security cameras, especially to novice business owners. If you’re planning on installing security cameras at your business and you want to know what you can and can’t do, here are some of the most common questions about business security camera laws.

Is it legal to watch employees on cameras?

For the most part, business owners have the legal right to watch employees on camera, as long as there are business reasons for doing so. So if you’re monitoring the behavior of your employees or just seeing if they’re conducting their jobs in the proper manner.

However, there are also instances where monitoring your employees on camera is illegal. Employers are not allowed to record any union-related activities or monitor them on camera. Furthermore, employers cannot install any cameras or watch footage where employees have a reasonable right to privacy. This may pertain to bathrooms, changing rooms, and other places that require privacy.

Does a business have to post surveillance signs?

No state in the country requires business owners to install signage that alerts workers or customers that they’re under surveillance, provided that the camera is in a public place. This doesn’t apply to private areas, as well as ones where people should assume a reasonable degree of privacy.

Even though it’s not required, many business owners install signage anyway. This is often as a common courtesy to customers, as well as acting as a deterrent against theft and vandalism.

What is considered illegal surveillance?

Surveillance laws vary from state to state, so knowing what’s considered illegal is almost entirely dependent on your geographic location. At the federal level, you can’t use surveillance equipment to record people in locations where people have an expectation of privacy, such as a bathroom, changing room, or hotel rooms.

States’ laws aren’t typically overbearing. However, most ban the use of wiretapping or audio when employees or customers aren’t aware of audio recordings. That said, some states have one-party consent, which allows for the recording of some conversations with only one party knowing about them.

Are surveillance cameras with audio legal?

Most surveillance cameras, at least those in business settings, don’t have audio because recording audio without the consent of all parties is illegal in almost all states. In residential usage, this isn’t an issue. But if you want to also have audio, you’ll need to let every person who walks through the door that they’re being recorded, which is usually much more of a hassle than it’s worth.

Safety Is Perhaps the Most Important Aspect

Despite some of the legal issues surrounding business surveillance cameras, remember that skirting the law isn’t the most important thing with regard to your business. It’s all about the safety of the people who work at and frequent your business. By installing a surveillance system and adhering to these laws, you can have a functional deterrent against theft and protection for your customers, employees, and assets.

If you decide to add security monitoring to your business, it’s important to choose an experienced company like TexasSurveillance.com.  We not only specialize in business security monitoring and business security cameras; we will guide you along the way when choosing what’s best for your particular business.

Making an informed and legal decision is crucial for your business, and we’re here to help.  Contact us for a complimentary detailed proposal.