Thursday, November 22, 2018

Things you learn when installing surveillance systems in business . The employee who objects the loudest is usually the one causing the issue why the cameras are needed

In my over the 40 years I have installed Surveillance Camera Systems the encounters I have had when putting them in seems to always be the same .
While most employees welcome them because it protects them because it shows they are doing their jobs  and not causing issues  it also protects their personnel property from theft and vandalism like when some one gets mad at them and keys their car.
 There is always that one employee who carry's on and threatens to quit their job and is gonna sue everyone etc etc. because their rights are being violated.

Well sorry no they are not when the cameras are out and visible unless your state has rules otherwise.
 unless its a restroom or locker room its pretty much any other room is fair game in most states.

So typically what happens after I install a camera system and I come back a few days later to do any final adjustments I find  that employee who did all the screaming and carrying on has left and so has all the issues why the system needed installed in the first place. Because something Improper, Immoral or Illegal was going on .

Take a small super market I did 15 year ago in South Hills of Pittsburgh  after owner was told by his insurance carrier to install additional cameras because his  workers compensation claims where getting too high.  Seems every time a pallet of bottles or other easily breakable items came in there was always damage or Shrinkage as its known going on in back room . One time I was close enough doing work I saw sure enough they where throwing a small football around and some one fell over a pallet and items got broke . I had not yet installed the cameras but let manager know what I saw but without proof what could he do.
 So after the cameras where installed  the employee who was always clowning around and screamed the loudest had quit his job , and ironically so did all the shrinkage issues. Amazing right. But this is what happened each and every time I have installed cameras in a retail or office situation.

Industrial plants on other hand cameras are more welcome because it protects employees like the time a fire broke out on a machine employees where able to show their boss exactly how it happened and that no one was around it .In another case a camera on the loading dock showed proof positive 12 pallets of product was loaded on a truck not 10 like driver claimed when he delivered it ends up he was shorting customers and stealing the product, again the guys on the loading dock where happy because it proved they where doing their jobs correctly.

Cameras are a 2 edged sword and most people could care less they are being watched  but if they do screw up it also shows that as well but an honest mistake is an honest mistake  no harm no foul.
accidents happen.

So when you have that employee who objects to cameras  or other security measures thats the one you watch. cant scientifically prove it but in my 40 years of work thats what I have found to be true.

 Plus after an investigation of this employee has been done you usually find they have caused other problems at  other places  they worked as well and they are often  delinquent on their bills frequently change addresses because they are avoiding bill collectors or law enforcement  or they have not paid their rent,often having skipped out on a lease. They are basically Con Artists .

I had a case recently where it was discovered  a manager had stolen $85K from a business after cameras were installed in New Castle  Pa. after they left in a huff because cameras where being installed and an audit was performed  .The kicker after they Left they started a similar business next town over and where using the stolen proceeds and products to run that business. Talk about bold .
When asked why they said it was because they  and their helpers where not paid enough to manage the business.


Its a dam shame what business owners have to do to protect the bottom line but its a known fact employee theft is a major reason why businesses fail. Because its the biggest single  amount of theft  after  Shoplifting , Burglary , Fraud  and Armed  Robbery.



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