Bystanders in website photos: We occasionally post photos of employees on the company website. Is that okay without their expressed written consent?

Jim Brown Loc: Skagit County, WA

We occasionally post photos of employees on the company website. Is that okay without their expressed written consent?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Best to check with the company lawyer, not UHH opinion.
Many times a condition of employment includes a "waiver" for any "company" photos.
Are you concerned about "bystanders" or employees?
Bystanders (non-employees), if on company property, may require a consent form.

I had to sign a consent form when the hospital where I received chemo had a photographer shoot pictures that included me.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Jim Brown wrote:

We occasionally post photos of employees on the company website. Is that okay without their expressed written consent?

No. You should have their permission. Our company, a tour company, has a waiver that all employees sign saying pictures of them at work may be used for the web or advertising.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Longshadow wrote:

Best to check with the company lawyer, not UHH opinion.
Many times a condition of employment includes a "waiver" for any "company" photos.
Are you concerned about "bystanders" or employees?
Bystanders (non-employees), if on company property, may require a consent form.

I had to sign a consent form when the hospital where I received chemo had a photographer shoot pictures that included me.

I suspect you needed to sign the consent form because the hospital was most likely going to use the photo for some sort of advertisement and it was needed. I do not disagree with your assessment of company photographs but if the photo is for personal use ONLY and not for purposes of the company itself I believe no consent form is required. I also do not disagree about checking with an attorney.

Dennis

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dennis2146 wrote:

I suspect you needed to sign the consent form because the hospital was most likely going to use the photo for some sort of advertisement and it was needed. I do not disagree with your assessment of company photographs but if the photo is for personal use ONLY and not for purposes of the company itself I believe no consent form is required. I also do not disagree about checking with an attorney.

Dennis

Putting photos on a company website is not personal use.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Jim Brown wrote:

We occasionally post photos of employees on the company website. Is that okay without their expressed written consent?

I had this come up and the large firm's lawyers said absolutely not.
This was in PA.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Longshadow wrote:

Putting photos on a company website is not personal use.

I worked for a company years ago where employees were encouraged to submit personal photos either of work related activities or otherwise. I suspect those personal photos were classed as PERSONAL photos.

My reply was not intended nor supposed to create division between us. You may have noticed I pretty much AGREED with your points. Not ALL companies seem to follow the very same idea your company went with. Apparently you have no room for other perspectives. Sorry.

Dennis

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dennis2146 wrote:

I worked for a company years ago where employees were encouraged to submit personal photos either of work related activities or otherwise. I suspect those personal photos were classed as PERSONAL photos.

My reply was not intended nor supposed to create division between us. You may have noticed I pretty much AGREED with your points. Not ALL companies seem to follow the very same idea your company went with. Apparently you have no room for other perspectives. Sorry.

Dennis

PERSONAL PHOTOS, not personal USE.....
There's a difference!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Longshadow wrote:

PERSONAL PHOTOS, not personal USE.....
There's a difference!

If I take photos of a plant in my back yard OR take photos of a company picnic and submit each to the company newsletter does not each type of photo relate to personal PHOTOS and PERSONAL USE? To me it does. Why be so obstinate when you can simply admit that not all companies are the same and let it go? Do you always have the idea you MUST be right. Sorry my friend but nobody is right all the time and that includes you and me.

How amazing you insist you are correct about the policies for a company I worked for about 40 years ago. WOW, HUH? Buh Bye now. I have a life.

Dennis

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

dennis2146 wrote:

If I take photos of a plant in my back yard OR tak... (show quote)

PEOPLE in them is the key. No problem with plants.
You can't see the difference between personal use of photos and personal photos themselves?
Sorry to hear that.

I never said that the policies for the company you worked for were either correct or incorrect.
You are putting words in my mouth.......
WOW! do that much?
And I never insisted......

Some life.

Dannj

Check with the your HR and Legal Depts..

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Jim Brown wrote:

We occasionally post photos of employees on the company website. Is that okay without their expressed written consent?

1. You could take the chance that any one of the conflicting answers here on UHH is correct.
2. You could take the chance that if one of those employees leaves under bad terms that they won't think of sueing over photos they didn't give written consent for.
3. You could take the chance that consulting a local lawyer is your best choice.
I know which one I would choose. BTW, company policy means nothing. What the law states where you are means everything.

Schoee Loc: Europe

CamB wrote:

No. You should have their permission. Our company, a tour company, has a waiver that all employees sign saying pictures of them at work may be used for the web or advertising.

If they won’t sign does it mean they don’t get the job?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Schoee wrote:

If they won’t sign does it mean they don’t get the job?

Interesting......
(I've always signed.)

Jim Brown Loc: Skagit County, WA

Thanks for the input y’all. I think I will stick with plants since they’re not known to litigate.