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IKEA – Hidden infra-red spy cameras found in Ikea toilets – and they’ve been there for 6 YEARS Rob Pattinson/Stephen Moyes – The Sun
30 Sep 2021
IKEA has removed cameras staff found ‘hidden’ in toilets.
The CCTV was found behind ceiling panels in both the men’s’ and women’s’ loos at its distribution centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and when staff confronted bosses at the furniture giant they admitted the lenses had been there since 2015.
Shocked staff uncovered the hidden cameras at Ikea’s Peterborough distribution centre. A member of staff reported noticing an infra-red light through a gap in the panels when the lights were switched off. A number of cameras were then uncovered by staff.
Staff claim the cameras were allegedly installed in 2015 to help Ikea combat rumoured drug-taking among some staff.
Footage has been retrieved from hard drives and handed to third party investigators.
If Ikea is found to have invaded staff privacy they will “hand themselves over to the authorities”, staff were told.
Staff were so outraged by the discovery some members quit their jobs.
Ex-employee Shannon Bodily was one of 600 stunned by the discovery. Ex-employee Shannon Bodily, who left the company in July, said she felt “violated” by their presence. The former staff member said: “I feel vulnerable, I feel violated”. She added: “If I find out I’m on that footage I feel it will affect me an awful lot. It’s already affected me. “I would like them [Ikea] to be prosecuted. “They can’t get away with this – it’s not fair and it’s an invasion of your privacy in the workplace.”
Another female employee of three years was so shocked that she immediately quit her job.
The mum, who is in her 20s, told The Sun: “I had worked there happily but I am so knocked by what has happened that I can’t step foot in there again. “This goes against Ikea promoting itself as a caring employee. Now Ikea’s guilty of a terrible breach of personal privacy.
It is claimed the furniture giant added the cameras to ‘spy’ on suspected drug-taking
“The thought of being secretly filmed while going about your personal business is sickening.
“I couldn’t continue there knowing I had to face bosses who may have been watching footage of me using the toilet.
“Everyone I know who works there is disgusted and outraged.”
Another source told The Sun: “Everyone is in shock.
“Staff have been offered counselling. A number of Muslim women were in tears.
“No one can believe this has been going on.
“We were told in emotional briefings that they were trying to clamp down on any cheating in drug testing of the workforce.
“But what on earth was the firm thinking. It is a scandal.”
Workers are now said to be considering taking legal action.
In June, a court ordered Ikea to pay a fine of £860,000 after being found guilty of spying on staff in France. Ikea France was accused of using private detectives and police officers to collect staff’s private data. This included illegally accessing their criminal records in order to vet applicants for jobs.
The Ingka group – which owns most of Ikea’s stores around the world – apologised and condemned the practices.
According to data protection laws, CCTV cameras should only be used in “exceptional circumstances” in areas where you would normally expect privacy, such as in changing rooms or toilets.
An IKEA spokesperson said, “We take the safety and security of our co-workers very seriously.
“Peterborough Distribution Centre is a large warehouse facility where forklift trucks and HGVs are in regular operation.
“In support of our health and safety policy, we have a drugs testing policy in place as per industry standards.
“The installation of the cameras in 2015 was to detect alleged activity that could have resulted in serious injury to co-workers, and to maintain a high level of safety on-site.
“The cameras were only ever intended to film activity in the roof space or corridors.
“All these cameras have since been removed and whilst an independent investigation takes place, we’re unable to share any further detail.”
Full Story: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/uknews/16287452/cameras-found-ikea-toilets-there-for-6-years/
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