recording phone calls

[gina32]

i recently had to call my daughter in an emergency at her place of work and the only way to contact a member of staff is through an ememrgency number, my daughter has now phoned me and told me that the call was being recorded, are they able to do that, or is it against the law, privacy laws and all that ? thanks

[squarebear]

Of course they can record it. They use it in case of any problems later.

[NazNomad]

They should inform you that it 'may' be recorded, I usually respond with, ''yes, I may record it too''.

[squarebear]

But you rang some emergency number rather than the main switchboard.

[gina32]

but it was a personal emergency call just what the phone is for

[squarebear]

Do normal callers use this number?

[ChuckFickens]

Recording private calls is a very very grey area, ofcoms view on it is that employees are entitled to privacy for private calls.

Also any expectations of privacy should be removed with an appropriate announcement if the call is being recorded.

I'd say the company should not be recording private calls and they are at risk of breaking privacy laws if they do.

[NazNomad]

Her work phone line isn't for your personal emergencies.

[gina32]

squarebear if you read the post you will see that i wrote that its the only way to contact a member of staff

[society]

Yep, and that is what their phone is for too - their personal use.

[squarebear]

Then why is it an "emergency "number?

To be honest, unless you have something to hide, why worry?

[ChuckFickens]

Relevant info

http://www.retellreco...k/legal/employees.htm

[gina32]

are people reading different to what ive written, its an ememrgency phone for emergency calls to contact staff!!!

[gina32]

staff are not allowed mobile phones in the workplace and therefore if you need to contact them in an emergency you phone the emergency number given

[NazNomad]

So, your daughter knew it was being recorded?

[gina32]

i didnt say there was a problem i asked if they were allowed to do this.

[Invictas]

Sorry,but I feel that as it is their phone(emergency phone or not) then they have the right to record what is said on it.
I presume they are more likely to record calls on the Emergency Number purely to make sure that they ARE Emergency calls?

[andy-hughes]

If this is a standard 'emergency' line, then it will be written into the rules for employees that they conesnt to calls being recorded.

With privaccy laws as tight as they are, no company is going to appear to infringe employees' rights unless they have informed their staff of their intention.