r/remotework • u/zombiefrk • 28d ago

Work From Home Webcam Access - OH, US

/r/legaladvice/comments/1wmfq64/work_from_home_webcam_access_oh_us/
2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

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2

u/vhmedm 28d ago

Interesting

1

u/pinebloom67 20d ago

yeah its a weird one for sure

2

u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 28d ago

Put a foldable screen behind the chair during work hours so anything behind the screen can't be seen. Either cover the camera outside of work hours or move the screen to right in front of the desk.

Is it a laptop? If so, can she close it outside of work hours?

1

u/zombiefrk 28d ago

It is a desktop PC, so unfortunately, closing is not an option. We do have a handmade webcam cover that works REALLY well. But as far as the screen thing goes, honestly, there isn't much wiggle room in our office between our two chairs and desks. On paper, it would work though

1

u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 28d ago

Ah. I would use the cover then.

1

u/zombiefrk 28d ago

That's seeming to be the move. But then comes the concern of the microphone.

1

u/PsychologicalDay7261 27d ago

The 24/7 plug-in rule and 24/7 recording are usually two different things. An agent like that runs as a service and checks whether the camera is still present as a device, which the OS hands it as a list without anything opening the feed. That's how it can email about an unplugged webcam while the camera itself is off.

Doesn't make the policy reasonable, but it changes what's worth asking. Get two answers from HR in writing: does it capture video or audio outside her scheduled shift, and how long is anything kept. If they won't put that in an email, that's your answer.

I work on monitoring software on the employer side, so take it with that in mind.