Online fashion retailer Asos is to install up to 300 cameras in its
warehouse in a bid to monitor its staff.
London’s freesheet the Evening Standard reported the online retailer could
install them as soon as by the end of this year.
The surveillance would aid company efficiency according to Asos, however,
warehouse workers have responded differently. One employee told the
Standard: “Management told us that it’s for ‘customer care’ but we think
they’re going to be spying on it. It’s going to put even more pressure on
us to go quicker. Everyone feels a bit wary about the cameras. It’s going
to feel like we’re in Big Brother.”
The controversial move has already seen Union GMB respond, who claim it
would be a breach of privacy and showed “very little dignity and respect”
to staff at the distribution centre.
Asos started out as a website where customers could buy affordable versions
of outfits worn by celebrities —“as seen on screen” — but is now one of the
UK’s biggest online clothing retailers.
Asos is yet to comment however, Ken Perritt, supply chain account director
at XPO Logistics who manage the warehouse said the cameras will “help us to
verify and respond swiftly to customer order queries”.
He added: “We have had CCTV cameras in place since the warehouse opened for
the safety and welfare of our colleagues, the security of the facility and
to monitor areas that can get very busy at key operational times.”
Recording on CCTV cameras is covered by the UK’s date protection act and
laws. Data protection law doesn’t prevent monitoring in the workplace,
however, it does set down rules about the circumstances and the way in
which monitoring should be carried out.
Employers must be clear about the reasons for monitoring staff and the
benefits that this will bring. They must also identify any negative effects
the monitoring may have on staff as part of an impact assessment.
For example, employers could consider whether there are any, less
intrusive, alternatives to monitoring and work out whether the monitoring
is justified, taking into account all of the above.
Image:Suveillance camera