What is the right of the employees to be respected and honoured in the work place, without being on camera 24 hours per day, 7 days per week? Is the employee entitled to freedom of information and data on file? For example, can CCTV cameras be used for timekeeping and breaks without the employee being aware of it? Should the employer inform and make a statement to the employee? How is all this information and data to be kept safe and legal?

Under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 (collectively the “DPA”), an employer, as the controller of personal data in relation to its employees, is obliged to comply with the data protection principles, as set out in the DPA. While employers have the right exercise reasonable supervision and control over employees, and accordingly to monitor employee use of computer and IT services, there are certain constraints around this, and that the data protection and privacy rights of employees must be respected.

If employees are monitored, they should be informed in advance of the reasons for the monitoring, the time schedule, the methods and techniques used and the data to be collected, and the