Usdaw calls for an end to customers filming retail workers without their individual permission

Addressing the annual conference in Blackpool’s Winter gardens, Rab Donnelly – Usdaw deputy general secretary said: “Usdaw has long campaigned for the protection of workers from abuse, violence and harassment. Within that, comes the protection of privacy and protection from intimidation. Recording and videoing without consent directly violates this.  

“I'm sure every retail worker will have had to deal with challenging situations on the shop floor and experienced harassment or abuse from customers as a result. Imagine that then being recorded, imagine how that must feel. Whether it's attacks, threats, or so-called pranks, which aren't funny at all, this is intimidation, this is invasion of privacy, this is outright cruelty when you're in an already vulnerable situation.  

“What if this video was then posted online, for thousands of people to see? Where videos can be edited to show just one side of an interaction, misrepresenting our members, and whipping up hatred against them. With the rise of social media and people wanting to document their life online, this behaviour is becoming an epidemic. Ritual humiliation of people who are trying to do their job. It's not fair, it's not right, it's not acceptable.  

“Unfortunately, the law isn't on our members' side, because it is largely legal to video within a public place, which includes stores. That is, unless there has been direct prohibition and that's what we're asking for. This is not to say all videoing and recording within stores is negative. 

“We know from our ‘Freedom from Fear’ survey that over 30% of retail workers want more CCTV and bodycams to help protect staff. But that's the difference, provided by employers as protective measures against violence, aggression and harassment. These are measures to protect not only staff, but also customers. Measures regulated by internal and government policies. These videos are not to be used arbitrarily to coerce, scare and intimidate, unlike recordings made by the general public, which are difficult to regulate and monitor.  

“There should be no videoing and recording in stores, unless consent has been given and we would go further, to say that consent should be given by individuals, not just by the store. This is part of the wider issue of the protection of shop workers. Employers have a duty of care to keep staff safe at work, that includes physical safety and mental health.”