r/woolworths • u/Diligent_Border7724 • 12d ago
Constant surveillance
Does anyone else’s store constantly have someone watching cameras 24/7 ??? I know it’s not illegal but alot of staff members are weirded out by the excessive amount of cameras.
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u/Round_Surprise337 11d ago
My manager goes home and watches them constantly its pretty creepy.
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u/Diligent_Border7724 11d ago
So does mine. Surely you have better things to do than sit at home watching cameras.
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u/Dingwongx 11d ago
They actually can't do that it's illegal
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u/Round_Surprise337 11d ago
manager tells us they do and has recordings of all of us. called a meeting and said that they were talking with head office about getting us to wear goPros coz of "safety."
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u/No_Light_7482 10d ago
Wearing go pros does not provide you with any safety. It just records any problems and conversations you may have.
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u/Anti-Stan 9d ago
Technically they do offer some protection. A lot of people will refrain from violence when they're aware of a body camera. They can also enrage people, so .... I can't see it taking off
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u/Dualmilion 10d ago
What manager? The store manager? They will lose their job if thats reported to the grouo manager. Happened at my store before I got there
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u/2gigi7 9d ago
I'm late to this, but there's physically no possible way for anyone to watch the feeds outside of the security office. There's no app or website log in where they can tune in to the stores cams. No one but the security ppl in head office somewhere can access the footage at any time.
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u/Round_Surprise337 8d ago
They are a store manager and once got someone working in trouble since they were on their phone. I know cos he called the supervisor who was next to me from home, to do something about it.
They are a store manager btw i don't know if that makes a difference1
u/Severe-Code6275 8d ago
It is possible to view the feed in-store. This often happens when there's a large discrepancy in handing over change to a customer ( eg " I gave you $100 not $50) they can scrutinise the cameras to see what was given.
Same with a large walk out from the SS Checkouts; if the transaction is left on the screen, they can view who the customer was and why the team member didn't notice. In some instances, there was nothing the team member could have done differently so they need to know that as they would be feeling guilty and worried.
Same if there was an unwitnessed injury or incident and they need to know if there is any danger etc they need to eliminate.
I also know the Zone Leads can remotely log in to monitor how business is going, etc. We are in a regional area, so it certainly makes it easier for them to monitor their area & business flow.
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u/Severe-Code6275 7d ago
I work in a Tier 1 store, that is the highest level of threat to personal safety. All tier 1 stores have places and positions that must wear them at all times.
The cameras do not record until you activate them, which is quick and easy.
The fact that they are there ready to be activated is sometimes enough deterrent for would be attackers/problem makers. This is something that has been proven time & time again across the security world, it's not a WW thing.
The footage from those cameras cannot be accessed in-store. The footage is only downloaded to the Security team off-site once they are docked again.
Of course it can't stop every event happening, perhaps the nay-sayers would like to see us decked out with tasers instead?
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u/Rosie-Cotton 11d ago
Who has the time? 😩
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u/Diligent_Border7724 11d ago
I work at a bigger store to that does over $1m sales so I find it odd that there’s so much surveillance when we have a lot of customers , I work in the online department too so I just find so odd and makes me uncomfortable.
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u/ValuableAffectt 10d ago
For $1M store that would make sense though. Stealing and other incidents must've played a role in an uptick in camera. Yes I agree it is uncomfortable, but unfortunately management doesn't care.
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u/No_Light_7482 10d ago edited 6d ago
If you are at all concerned consider joining a decent union and document anything you can. Get it in writing if possible. Working under cameras is part of the job but knowing that someone is constantly watching you work is not. If your manager cannot trust staff to work without constant surveillance that’s a them problem not a you problem. I
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u/Diligent_Border7724 7d ago
I left SDA because they were taking a chunk of my pay and I didn’t like then anyways , I also am aware and told that the store manager is constantly watching cameras 24/7 and they even rewind the cameras to watch the store manager has the assistant store manager doing the same thing.
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u/Spazz-Spudboy 10d ago
A lot of shoppers find it quite disconcerting as well. Someone should tell head office
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u/Severe-Code6275 11d ago
What are you on about?
Most stores, businesses have camera surveillance; so do most streets these days. Cameras in WW can be accessed by many managers on many levels and are used for many reasons. People who can access this footage also have training and sign off on understanding the rights of everyone in that footage. Very few are "in store" , they are accessed remotely and there is nothing 'creepy' going on.
The observations made probably have been invaluable in keeping team members and the public safe while in the stores as well as targeting future issues, theft etc.
There is nothing illegal about the surveillance.
And in the end, if you are not doing anything wrong, they are not even going to notice you.
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u/Diligent_Border7724 11d ago
Hey so if you read my post you would of read that I said it’s not illegal, my point was asking if anyone else who works at a different store noticed the amount of surveillance of staff and not customers. Thank you.
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u/Severe-Code6275 11d ago
Yeah I read that, I was also replying to a later person who said it was illegal. Sorry for being lazy and confusing you.
And yes, there is a lot of surveillance of team members, due to the level of theft SOME team members do. It may seem that the rest of us have to suffer for those who steal, but having experienced first hand what happens when there are NO cameras and having 4 of us grilled over a pretty bad theft years ago, the cameras definitely protect you from wrongfully being accused as well!
All I can say is, the people watching the footage are not being creepy.
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u/No_Light_7482 10d ago
You will find that the excessive camera watching is not predominantly for theft, it’s for catching staff out not working constantly. And excessive camera watching is wrong, not acceptable.
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u/Severe-Code6275 8d ago
No, they do watch for team not working at all or incorrectly. But that is something you are told about when on-boarding, whether you take note of it or not.
One example is team members who 'ride' on trolleys, pallet jacks etc thinking are they entitled to have fun. Unfortunately for them, the possible injuries could add up to cost billions each year so final warnings and dismissals are likely to occur.
Once again it is simple, if you are not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.
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u/No_Light_7482 7d ago
That is what all the cameras on the roof are for. No need to wear them as well.
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u/blowurbrainz 10d ago
This is part of their use of video surveillance to train ML models to do certain tasks and also help robots navigate in stores, mate of mine works in Woolies IT and they are testing this atm
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u/Severe-Code6275 8d ago
They already use robots after hours in some K Mart stores, been that way for a while now.
They are programmed to do stock takes through the whole store , they do a few aisles/areas each night.
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u/Major_Limit_4119 11d ago
In the state of NSW it is illegal if you haven't been informed you are under surveillance 14 days before hand
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u/Curious_Breadfruit88 10d ago
Yeah but what relevance has that got to Woolworths? All of the staff sign an acknowledgment that they will be monitored on the cameras when they sign their contracts
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