Should I record a conversation at work?

[deysongrey]

Hello all! Pretty much my first post, and I wish it was happier circumstances. There's recently been some domestic drama (not mine) that has infected my work place, and it's been spilling onto me. I have a feeling my boss and I are going to have an unpleasant conversation when I go into work tonight, and I was wondering if it would be beneficial to me to record the conversation on my cellphone.

On the one hand it could protect me in case he threatens my job, or worse, my personal life. On the other hand, I worry that if I do it, the HR people would argue some policy against recording people. We have a rule about recording devices in the production area, but nothing about break rooms or offices. Or they'd call it "inadmissible" or whatever because he won't know he's being recorded.

[EricKei]

On the legality side -- check the laws on your state/city's websites. In some states, recordings are illegal unless BOTH parties know that it's gonna be recorded; in others, only one needs to know.

On the policy side -- Do you have an employee handbook? That's about the only way I can think of that would inform you about such a thing, short of asking HR.

Even if you don't record it, document it in writing ASAP after it takes place, with date and time, and as many details as you can recall. Just in case.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Recording conversations is a sticky thing--I wouldn't do it unless your area allows for one-party consent and company policy allows for it.

And if your employer has rules against recording devices in the work area, those probably also apply to offices and break areas.

I would suggest documenting events and conversations in writing, and making copies. Don't give up your originals.

[Gilhelmi]

Like everyone else has said, some states require two-party consent. Some companies also prohibit employees from recording at all. If you do ASK PERMISSION beforehand, but it might also look bad from their point of view.

I would instead recommend, whatever was said in the meeting be written down and signed by both you and your manager (and anyone else present). If they ask, say something along the lines of "It is to protect BOTH of us. This way if a disagreement about what was said comes up, there will be a written record of it."

[deysongrey]

Well I talked with my boss, and seemed to smooth things over, but then the next day it seemed there was more personal stuff spilling into work. Rather than things turning nasty, I'm just switching shifts. More covnenient for me at home anyway.