Want to protect your business property, help make your workplace more secure and see what your employees are doing? Let’s talk about employee monitoring and theft-deterrence surveillance.
A security camera and business surveillance system can’t stop every single problem, but it can give you instant access to monitor your business in real-time as well as recorded evidence and tracking.
We’ve designed and installed security camera and video systems for businesses across Fresno, Clovis and the Valley and there are always two questions I get from business owners:
- What can they legally monitor within their business?
- What is the best security camera system?
Disclaimer: check your local laws or consult your attorney first.
Basically you can legally monitor customers and employees in most places where you have a legitimate business reason to do it and where they don’t have an expectation of privacy. But this can depend: a person working the front counter in public doesn’t expect it, but someone in a cubicle, even in an open office plan, might have an expectation of privacy.
Obviously, you can’t monitor places like restrooms or locker rooms and you might not be able to monitor breakrooms. You also can’t always record audio because of federal wiretapping laws, which is why surveillance cameras usually don’t have or record audio.
Retail stores, banks, restaurants and other businesses that have employees interacting with the public commonly use video surveillance for security and theft-prevention but there are other reasons too.
I’ve worked with a lot of warehouses, distributors and other businesses that do a lot of deliveries. They want theft-prevention as well, but a lot of times, they’re monitoring employees for safety violations and to help prevent frivolous workers compensation claims. Again, disclaimer: I’m not an expert, so you need to consult a legal expert on where and when you can monitor employees.
But I think it’s funny how just knowing that there’s monitoring will stop employee theft, inappropriate activities or unsafe habits. Sometimes it’s enough for employees to know they could be watched to improve their productivity and treatment of each other and the work environment.
Best Business Security Camera Systems
The best security camera system for businesses? That depends.
It depends on the size of your business, how many cameras you want to invest in, whether or not you want multiple or visible monitors throughout the workplace or if you just want to keep it on the “down low” by watching it on your smartphone or desktop PC monitor.
What’s it going to cost? That also depends on size and sophistication but also planning ahead is going to save you a lot in the long run. We’ve learned that it pays off in the long run to use a bit biggers systems that can be expanded.
Business owners (and especially homeowners who want surveillance) always seem to find a few more spots for cameras after they install a system. We don’t mind coming back and adding on, but it’s a lot better for you if you plan on expansion.
If you’ve got something in place already and you’re thinking you’ve got to tear it all out, there’s good news. If your system is less than 15 years old, you might not need an entirely new setup. We can take a look and recommend ways that you can update only where needed.
HD cameras are a great way to get better monitoring without having to rebuild the whole thing. The best place to start is the cash register view. Good for your business and good for your customers (these guys are placing a credit card skimmer over the legit device).
If you’re watching live monitors, we can help you place a few more, which can be a visible deterrent to thieves (whether they are employees or not) and other threats to your employees and customers. Or, we can help you add your monitoring to your smartphone.
I like technology for the entertainment and convenience, but I also appreciate it as a business owner who needs every protection possible to keep things safe and profitable for myself and my clients.
Call (559) 432-8600 or Email Us at info@cvesfresno.com Now to Talk About Employee Monitoring Cameras or Business Surveillance Systems
