Do a google for “hidden camera laws by state” and find out if your state controls their use some don’t. Go from there.
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Not knowing what the OP’s role is at this barn, they should ONLY notify their boss/supervisor employer and no one else. Do not send anyone any emails. IMO it’s outrageous that a boarder took it upon themselves to install cameras because someone was feeding their horse carrots. OMG the horrors of it all. Now I could see if the horse has a history of choke or becomes a real nudge (I have one of those) when given treats. So I get that. I also would understand if a boarder had a mare ready to foal and wanted to keep an eye on her but I would never ever install anything in a barn without getting permission from the owner or responsible party.
There are laws in regards to surveillance cameras - and I don’t think a boarder is covered under any of them, and there are also laws regarding camera placement within someone’s residence even if that is employer supplied housing.
Laws do vary from state to state and goodness knows maybe county/city to county/city as well.
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how would you respond to the situation of a boarder placing a hidden video camera in her paddock without the consent of the barn manager / property owner?
just take it, when asked by boarder where is their camera, What camera?
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Other than that might be theft?
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I did a Google search for surveillance laws as well as “ag-gag” laws but couldn’t find something applicable to this situation. Had a brief chat with the boss and he agrees with the potential risks to a hidden video camera. Sometimes it just takes discussing a situation to broaden the view point. Now this boarder could still go ahead but at least she will have been told “No”.
Sorry folks, but meddling and drama don’t apply to someone asking what protections they have in their place of employment. Cherry-picked video clips of myself and others can easily be used as weapons. Most boarders I know, would not be keen on a hidden video camera installed by a disgruntled boarder. An employer or property owner - fine.
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You are right. No one has the right to alter or afix anything to property that does not belong to them. IMO this boarder went to extra-ordinary extremes and frankly I don’t know that I’d want someone who’d resort to that boarding at my facility. You did the right thing.
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I would be more than a little pissed off if I found out that another boarder had installed hidden cameras.
A barn owner doing so (with disclosure) would be a quite different story.
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Sure, but you can’t just take over what happens in property that isn’t yours. So, it’s still on your boss to get rid of the camera or press charges or whatever the case may be. You can just quit. ( you probably should just quit. You’re desperate to start drama and let’s be real, barn jobs aren’t lucrative. I’ve done it. I know.) Let the people in charge do their jobs, and if they don’t, get out of there! I have no idea why you’d want to stick around a job that seems to have such devious people anyway.
You can’t mess around with someone else’s business, because again, you aren’t privy to all the conversations that happen between the barn owner/manager/ other clients. If all you’re doing is your job, you have nothing to worry about.
Without knowing all sides of the story, it really sounds like you’re going to meddle to the point that you drive out boarders and you might find yourself getting sued by your bosses for loss of revenue. Let them handle their own business, please.
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If I was employed at a boarding stable and discovered a boarder was secretly recording their horse during turnout, I’d take it up with the BO. If said boarder gave me a reason to feel weird about the situation, again, I’d take it up with the BO. It’s the BO’s job to manage both the boarders, and the employees. Employees have no say in boarder behavior to anyone other than the boss. Zero. Conversely, boarders have no reason to interact with employees outside routine horse care and pleasantries.
If I were an employee and felt the BO wasn’t managing a situation to my satisfaction, I personally would try to have an adult conversation and rectify the situation. I would not approach the questionable boarder, or attempt any resolution on my own. If the BO couldn’t resolve the issue, I would have to face the hard choice of either leaving or accepting.
Now… and maybe this is the wine talking… if I were a BO, and I found out a boarder was hiding recording devices anywhere on my property without my permission, I don’t care what state I live in, and I don’t care what reciprocal laws there are, I would take a flipping baseball bat to said recording device and show the boarder the door.
I get needing to protect Dobbin from handouts, I have a sensitive flower and a mouthy critter, I get it. But secretly recording so they can knab the perp in the act is just beyond the pale. Not to mention varsity-level creepy.
NOBODY should have to deal with this kind of unbridled drama at their happy place. Nobody.
If I was employed at a boarding stable and discovered a boarder was secretly recording their horse during turnout, I’d take it up with the BO. If said boarder gave me a reason to feel weird about the situation, again, I’d take it up with the BO. It’s the BO’s job to manage both the boarders, and the employees. Employees have no say in boarder behavior to anyone other than the boss. Zero. Conversely, boarders have no reason to interact with employees outside routine horse care and pleasantries.
If I were an employee and felt the BO wasn’t managing a situation to my satisfaction, I personally would try to have an adult conversation and rectify the situation. I would not approach the questionable boarder, or attempt any resolution on my own. If the BO couldn’t resolve the issue, I would have to face the hard choice of either leaving or accepting.
Now… and maybe this is the wine talking… if I were a BO, and I found out a boarder was hiding recording devices anywhere on my property without my permission, I don’t care what state I live in, and I don’t care what reciprocal laws there are, I would take a flipping baseball bat to said recording device and show the boarder the door.
I get needing to protect Dobbin from handouts, I have a sensitive flower and a mouthy critter, I get it. But secretly recording so they can knab the perp in the act is just beyond the pale. Not to mention varsity-level creepy.
NOBODY should have to deal with this kind of unbridled drama at their happy place. Nobody.
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I can’t believe people are accusing the OP of being overly dramatic when she’s being filmed without her knowledge (at first, now she knows) and likely without the BO’s permission. That is just really, really creepy behavior by the boarder.
As a BO, I would never permit a boarder to install something like this in a common area. In her own stall, whatever, but not a common area like a paddock. and I would be FURIOUS if this was done without my knowledge and permission. Definite 30 days’ notice event. That’s just not an acceptable way to act. If there is a problem with the horse getting food it shouldn’t (which is banned here), why not, say, have a conversation with management and let them address it? and if they don’t, MOVE.
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Not sure about the perv part. I’ve peed or changed clothes in many a horse stall, and I would guess most of you have too!
But she should absolutely just take this to her boss, not send a mass email. Management should be communicating with the clients.
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JustTheTicket - I am part of my employer’s business. What happens to me in the course of my employment may very well affect him, other boarders, and the business as a whole. Historically and even through present , employers have said “do it or quit” regardless of the effect on employees. That is why, for all its faults, there are workplace protection laws. “Barn jobs” don’t get to scoot out from those. Stepping up and saying, "I’m very concerned about this situation and here is why … " Stepping up and asking, “How will I and your boarders be protected from a disgruntled client?” - This is not drama.
Thankfully, my boss and I have a good working relationship. All I needed to do was describe some potential scenarios such as video clips on social media and he got it. He understands what I’m concerned about as he has experienced something similar and isn’t panicking over the idea of “workplace protection”. He also understands the need to protect his business from a disgruntled boarder who wants to have sole control over a hidden camera on his property recording what, where, and whom she desires. As of this morning, short discussion , boss made decision, the matter is at rest for now.
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Sorry, but really seem to want to stir drama… It sure does apply here.
And the camera isn’t much hidden when you know there is one, isn’t it?
« Used as weapon »… what do you guys do that is so bad that could be used as weapon is beyond me… I truly understand not wanting to be videotaped, but clearly, you guys are all acting so childishly… :rolleyes:
Why do you need to broaden the owner of the barn’s point of view? Is he unable to have his own and to speak to his boarder?
Me think the BO might have agreed to that camera - and you conviced him not to.
And I have read anywhere on this thread that someone said hidden camera, without the consent of the BO, was ok.
The OP is NOT being filmed. She overheard, or was told by that boarder, that the boarder was to install hidden camera in her paddock to watch who was giving carrots to her horse against her will.
Clearly, if the boarder had ever wanted to keep this a secret, the OP wouldn’t have known…
As a BO, I would never permit a boarder to install something like this in a common area. In her own stall, whatever, but not a common area like a paddock.
As I understand it, the paddock IS the boarder’s horse stall… Horse living 24/7 in a paddock.
So the camera wouldn’t be in a common area where people would get undressed or pee… or whatever.
and I would be FURIOUS if this was done without my knowledge and permission. Definite 30 days’ notice event. That’s just not an acceptable way to act. If there is a problem with the horse getting food it shouldn’t (which is banned here), why not, say, have a conversation with management and let them address it? and if they don’t, MOVE.
Most probably the boarder had a discussion with the BO and told his she would be installing a camera…
My guess is it’s why the OP is trying to convince him otherwise.
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Tell your boss, let them deal with it. If you don’t like how your boss resolves the issue, maybe it’s time to move on.
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MGL, I am glad you and your boss seem to be solid adults who understand exactly why a unauthorized camera is an issue. Good for you.
As for some of the people on this thread…wow.
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Agree. The OP has every right to be upset about being filmed at work without her knowledge and consent.
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Depending on the state where you are located, it is probably illegal for the border to install a video camera and record anyone. Barn owner could be sued.
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Alright. She just wants drama. Fully understood. Have fun, then.
PSA to all boarders reading this: installing hidden cameras is NOT an appropriate solution to your problems.
I feel like that message keeps getting lost in this thread.
Carry on.
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