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Avoiding conflict when deploying surveillance in the workplace

The ongoing macroeconomic crisis is impacting businesses in a number of ways besides constricting their spending habits. As people around the world struggle to make ends meet, they become more malevolent, turning to crime as a potential answer to putting bread on the table. These criminals don't necessarily need to be consumers, as employees may also turn to theft.

For this reason, among others, companies need to consider implementing a robust security system. If an organization doesn't have surveillance cameras in and outside their office, for example, they are inherently more susceptible to crime and have no way of helping authorities find out who was responsible for such incidents.

According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global video surveillance industry is forecast to experience significant growth in the coming years as more organizations adopt the technology. In fact, analysts expect the market to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 19 percent through 2016, eventually generating more than $25 billion in revenue.

Unfortunately, if an organization jumps right into implementing video surveillance cameras throughout the office without warning the workforce, employees may get a little shaken. After all, nobody wants to think their boss is monitoring every task and activity done in the office.

If a business is looking to install a video surveillance system, executives need to be precautious and work with employees during the deployment, according to a report by The Globe and Mail. If decision-makers go ahead and implement security tools without informing other individuals in the office, they may in for a surprise down the road.

Collaborating with employees
The most essential aspect of any efficient organization is having solid communication. Therefore, it is critical that decision-makers speak with employees before implementing a surveillance system in the workplace, the news source said. If individuals come into work Monday morning and are rudely startled by a camera staring them in the face, there will likely be a general consensus that some privacy rule was violated.

Executives can avoid this problem by collaborating with employees and even asking for their input, The Globe and Mail noted. This counsel can include contributions as to where the cameras should be located and whether or not individuals believe it will invade their privacy or disrupt operations.

Establish understandable policies
One of the most important aspects of any security system is how the tools are used. Employees will often be skeptical of the technology's benefits until they know for sure how decision-makers are leveraging the surveillance cameras.

Executives need to educate individuals about when and how the devices will capture video, the news source said. This protocol should be written down and easily accessible to any worker interested in learning more about it. This is especially important for outdoor cameras, as employees should know how far the tools are capable of seeing and whether images will be distorted at a certain distance.

If a surveillance system is being used as a device to improve efficiency rather than a crime deterrent, employees need to know that anyone caught on tape is fair game and this activity can be used against them, the news source said.

Since today's business world is highly competitive, many decision-makers will end up using surveillance as a way to ensure all individuals are working efficiently. Regardless of how the device is used, establishing a clear policy and working with employees will be the only way the implementation is smooth.


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