In August 2026, Wetherspoons boss banned the use of Meta glasses within all of his pubs, citing that customers cannot record, photograph or capture audio of staff or other customers within all the pubs.
Meta glasses are not like your regular sunglasses. They allow users to film and take photos discreetly, with built-in cameras, speakers and microphones.
These clandestine recording devices are growing more and more popular. Employers are now facing a unique problem: what can they do about Meta glasses at work?
In the workplace, Meta glasses can pose risks, especially for employees working in customer-facing roles.
The discreet built-in cameras raise a number of privacy and security concerns for people who work directly with customers, with them never quite knowing when they are being filmed.
This can have a wider impact on workplace relationships. Customers may feel uncomfortable knowing they could be recorded while interacting with staff, while employees may become more cautious in their day-to-day interactions.
Other than employees who are public-facing, the glasses can pose a risk between employees at work.
If employees are recording one another, it can lead to workplace distrust and create a hostile work environment where people believe that they are being watched.
There may also be discrimination issues that arise if the glasses are being used to target specific employees.
Should recording occur frequently, it could lead to employees feeling harassed or intimidated while at work.
There then come matters of confidentiality. Cameras can unintentionally capture confidential material and share it with the integrated AI in the device.
Personal information presents a similar issue. Should the glasses capture personal data or health information, the organisation could find itself breaching GDPR.
While there may be some distinct negatives of Meta glasses at work, there are some accessibility positives that the glasses hold.
As the glasses have built-in AI descriptions and Be My Eyes integration, they can support employees with visual impairments to help them navigate their surroundings.
Due to the fact that Meta glasses are priced as mainstream consumer technology, they are much cheaper than traditional accessibility aids, meaning they are much more accessible to those with accessibility needs.
Therefore, before employers place a blanket ban on Meta glasses, they must first consider their employees’ accessibility needs.
Although clandestine recording is not illegal in England and Wales, employers can take practical steps to prevent it from happening in the workplace.
However, any restrictions should only be introduced after carefully considering accessibility needs. Employers can address this by including an accessibility clause in their policies, allowing those who rely on the technology to continue using it.
Our team understands that new technology can create additional pressure for employers, which is why we are here to support you with implementing workplace policies around Meta glasses.
We can help you create policies that protect staff while supporting their accessibility needs.
Need support with Meta glasses in the workplace? Get in touch with our team.
