When your boss is a spy

Date: 7/2/2006
Source: Seven
Author: -

There has been a massive rise in the number of workplaces choosing to spy on their employees, according to unions.

Bosses were using hidden cameras, microphones and tracking devices to keep an eye on their employees.

Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorten claimed workplace spying was spiralling out of control.

"We're not slaves if we're workers, we're not owned by our employers," Bill said.

He claimed 60 per cent of employers were using covert surveillance in the workplace.

However, he said legally there was little workers could do.

"The employer at the moment has an almost unfettered right to spy on anything the worker does at work," Bill said.

"Technology has changed so quickly, the poor old legislators and the politicians, they can't keep up."

The Australian Services Union's Daryl Cochrane claimed employers could place a small camera in air conditioning ducts or even in the open area of the staff toilets.

"They install them on the weekends when the staff aren't around," Daryl said.

"I know it sounds ridiculous but we've had approaches from people wanting to fit cameras in toilets, so they can monitor how long staff are spending in toilets."

"It's incredible, but that's what happens."

Victorian Law Reform Commission's Marcia Neave said Australia needed much tougher laws to protect workers from surveillance – especially as global positioning systems technology had become more accessible.

"I think most of us would regard that as really demeaning and really invasive on our human dignity," Marcia said.

"It's now quite easy to put a device in somebody’s vehicle, in somebody’s laptop, or in any other part of workplace equipment."

Ozspy's Mark Pastor said the existing global positioning systems in work trucks and cars could be used by bosses to check up on employees.

In addition, mobile phones could be used to keep track of workers, even when they were not at work.

"It's pretty much a satellite navigation phone, it's a tracker and you can look where it is on the internet," Mark said.

For months, Samatha Putkunz worked as a receptionist for a chiropractic clinic unaware that she was being spied on, until a technician came to fix the phones.

The technician discovered a bug. Then Samantha found tapes and recording devices in a locked cupboard.

"To think everything I went through and previous people went through, it's just unbelievable," Samantha said.

Although there might be a legitimate reason for an employer to use surveillance techniques in the workplace, there were examples where cameras were set up for the right reasons but used illegally.

Department story security officer Leanne Bedgegood was horrified when she discovered a male colleague was using the shop's security system to visually stalk customers and staff.

"I think they would be horrified to know that their backsides are being zoomed in on and their breasts are being zoomed in on," Bedgegood said.

Employees should also be aware that there were no laws preventing employers taking DNA from you and use it, for example, to refuse to give you a promotion.

As technology improves, it will only get easier for bosses to find newer and more deceptive ways to watch their workers. Perhaps only tough laws will prevent employers from crossing the privacy line.

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