Can an employer record workplace phone calls?

Yes. But if an employer records phone calls, they should make sure staff and customers have been advised at some point that the calls are being recorded. That’s because the Privacy Act says, generally speaking, an agency must tell you if it is collecting your personal information.

There are many good reasons for recording workplace phone calls. For example, some agencies let people know that their conversations are being recorded for quality assurance reasons. Other agencies record calls for safety reasons. 

You should also keep in mind that if you do make recordings, the client or employee will be entitled to request copies of the recordings involving them.

Updated October 2025