Would you put a body cam on your employee?

Question

Do you think it reasonable to request your hourly wage employee wear a body cam when you’re absent?

I’m referring to an employee who is supposed to be performing labour work.

I’m sick of paying employees who I know are jacking off half the time.

I’m definitely going to be installing security cameras into ALL remodels I do from now on. I’m stupid for not doing this earlier. However it’s hard to put a camera in every single area, so I thought, why not just use body cams?

I will angle the conversation as “I need to monitor the work to make sure I know any building issues that arise and so I’m on the same page with you about where we are up to”.

Is there anything I’m missing, like I’d be in breach of some labour law etc.

David Frandsen · Answer

@Nat Chan I like the outside of the box thinking but... Are you kidding me?? This is a horrible idea on so many levels. I did a lot of construction labor and considered myself a hard working honest person. I would have refused to wear a body cam. If you don't trust your people you've got the wrong people. If you are a person that expects your people to to know what they are doing with zero management or communication then your expectations are off. There is a reason why construction companies have laborers, then superintendents, then project managers, ect. People need to be managed and clearly communicated with. If you do this and they are still under performing or dishonest then cut them loose. Just my two cents. Best of luck!

JD Martin · Answer

If I felt the need to ask my employees to wear a body cam to make sure they were actually working, that would say far more about me than it would about my "theoretically" lazy employee. So I would suggest you may want to take a deep look at yourself and ask "What is it about me that attracts lousy workers that I need to keep tabs on and repels honest workers that can be trusted to do a job?"

You find the answer to that and you won't need body cameras. Everyone always thinks the answer lies somewhere "out there", when in reality you are the root of all of your own problems.

Mike Cumbie · Answer

to answer the question of "Do i think it is reasonable to have employees wear body cameras" is No, I do not think it is reasonable. If that employee is not capable of performing the task they are hired for then an employee better suited for that task should be employed.

Nat C. · Answer

@David Frandsen

Thanks David and everyone who took the time to reply.

It was great to hear others opinions. I don’t think it’s a good idea after hearing other people’s thoughts. The on site surveillance cameras will certainly suffice.

Christian Manhard · Answer

@Nat Chan you could present it like that but you will probably lose your contractors.. there is a shortage of good labor as I read on BP and hear from other contractors all the time. If they are any decent they have plenty of work besides your project. I would assume the client would try to nickel and dime me and I would already be onto my next “non problem” client. If they do the work, get it done, and it’s quality work I wouldn’t risk it.

Kyle J. · Answer

@Nat Chan There’s a few potential issues. Issue one: There are no wireless body cams that could record continuously long enough to be of any value. Even police body cams don’t record continuously. They are simply activated when needed. So even if your employees did wear them, when would they activate them? Likely just when they weren’t goofing off, right? So you’d never catch them the other times.

Issue two: Most body cams (like the ones the police use) record audio. I believe Florida is what’s called a 2-party state, meaning you’d need the consent of both parties involved in any conversation to consent to having their audio recorded if they had a reasonable expectation of privacy (like inside a home). Even if your employee consented, would everyone they came in contact with?

Issue three: If you did record even a week’s worth of footage on just a few employees, who’s got time to watch all that footage?

Ultimately, it’s a unique/creative idea, but not one that’s going to work for what you want it to.

Nat C. · Answer

@Christian Manhard

Ain’t that the truth. It’s damn hard to find good contractors in today’s market!

I’m truly fed up with paying a weekly wage to guys who are only working half the time though.

Kenneth Mooney · Answer

@Nat Chan why not just hire better, more highly qualified workers? Find someone who takes pride in their work and productivity. It won’t be easy, I know, but it sounds like it would be worth it.

Nat C. · Answer

@Mike Cumbie

It’s not about capability Mike. It’s about honesty of time. My last employee was HIGHLY capable but the amount of work completed each week became less and less. He realised he could goof off for periods with no one watching him and it became progressively worse.

Nat C. · Answer

@Kyle J.

I appreciate your thoughts Kyle 😊

There’s actually a number of inexpensive body cams that have an 8 hour battery life with continuous recording.

Would you put a body cam on your employee?

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