Audio Recording in the Workplace

[mmccool719]

Hi. If there is a better board to post this to, let me know. I do private duty in a private home for a man in a vegetative state. I’ve always known there are cameras throughout the home. They’ve recently added WiFi booster boxes which not only enhance the video, but also added/enhanced audio which can be heard throughout the home, even our break area. I only know because the head nurse is a friend. They have not officially told anyone they’re being audio recorded and all conversation in all parts of home are now recorded and monitored. Again, video I understands, cameras are in plain view. How would other nurses feel knowing everything they say is now being recorded with the employer telling you?

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

9 minutes ago, mmccool719 said:

It’s not agency. I’m directly hired by the family. Some Nurses were suspicious and unplugging the “WiFi extender”. The doctor who installed and monitors actually came in and duct taped the plug to the wall and made a label saying “do not unplug” and another label on the box saying “WiFi extender”. That it is, but it also strongly enhanced the signal so it picks up EVERYTHING, even whispered convo. His excuse for recording is he is gathering evidence to record a certain nurse in order to fire her. But this has been said since last Summer so I’m guessing there’s more to this. The idea that this doctor watches/listens is rather creepy. And yes, he has the time to do so.

Wait the doctor installed the cameras?! Oh no. No. Nope.

[caliotter3]

You have stayed there too long. The pay can’t be that fantastic or you would be content with things as they are. The client sounds somewhat off kilter. He should have fired the nurse a long time ago if he has problems with her.

[mmccool719]

2 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

You have stayed there too long. The pay can’t be that fantastic or you would be content with things as they are. The client sounds somewhat off kilter. He should have fired the nurse a long time ago if he has problems with her.

LOL, "off kilter" is an understand. The pay is excellent and I love my case and co-workers - which makes it hard because I feel literally sick knowing what I know and not being able to do anything about it unless I want to get fired.

[JKL33]

4 hours ago, mmccool719 said:

The doctor who installed and monitors

4 hours ago, mmccool719 said:

His excuse for recording is he is gathering evidence to record a certain nurse in order to fire her

I smell a private issue between these two.

It's unclear who the employer actually is here, but it seems rather unlikely that evidence of wrongdoing is required to remove an individual from a private case.

[Nunya, BSN]

9 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

I have been told point blank by a family member that they were installing cameras to record, specifically to obtain evidence for lawsuits/accusations. I wasted no time quitting that case.

WOW!. Good for you that that person was stupid. I hope you told the agency and all the other nurses on that case.

[caliotter3]

18 hours ago, Elaine M said:

WOW!!. Good for you that that person was stupid. I hope you told the agency and all the other nurses on that case.

At the time there were no other nurses on the case. I reported this to the agency and made clear that she used the word "lawsuit"; the agency said that basically they did not care and that I could take the work or leave it. As I recall, they didn't "have" any other cases available to me so I had to find a new employer. That is one of the agencies that is always advertising plenty of work, so I doubt they didn't have anything for me. They just didn't want to deal with somebody who would not allow themselves to be treated like a stupid sheep.

[Peditra]

This whole situation sounds really weird. I did work at one place where outside the door, there was a sign saying there was live recording going on in there. I appreciated it because I knew it was going on, but I also went out of my way to never go into the room unless I truly had to. Who wants to be recorded on video and audio? I certainly don't. In PA, there has to be 2 person consent to do recordings. You can do recordings in your own house, but if there is audio, I think it has to be 2 person consent? I'm not sure exactly. I would feel really uncomfortable if I knew I was being recorded. I've been in facilities that record general areas, but home care is a much more intimate environment. I wouldn't feel comfortable working there.