Whether you can record your boss depends on where you and the other people are, and on your employer's rules. Federal law generally lets someone who is part of a conversation record it (often called one-party consent), but some states require the consent of everyone in a private conversation. Below: the federal rule, three state examples, workplace policies, and what to write down if you decide not to record. This guide is for people working in the United States. It is not legal advice, and it does not suggest recording anyone without telling them.
Key points
- Under 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d), a person who is part of a conversation can generally record it, unless the purpose is to commit a criminal or tortious act.
- Some states require the consent of everyone in the conversation; Washington, Florida, and Maryland are examples, not a complete list.
- Your employer may have its own rule on recording, and breaking a workplace rule can lead to discipline even where state law allows the recording.
- Same-day notes and a short follow-up email are your own account and don't depend on consent rules. For your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.
Contents
The federal rule: one-party consent
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d), it is not unlawful for a person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication where that person is a party to it, or where one of the parties has given prior consent, unless it is done for the purpose of committing a criminal or tortious act.
Two limits follow from that wording. The exception is about conversations you are part of; leaving a phone running in a meeting room after you walk out is a different situation. And the federal rule is only one layer: state law can be stricter, and your employer can have its own policy.
States that require everyone's consent: three examples
We read these state statutes on October 14, 2026. They are examples, not a complete list; other states have their own wording and exceptions.
State | What the statute says |
|---|---|
Washington (RCW 9.73.030) | Recording a private conversation without first getting the consent of all the people in it is unlawful, with listed exceptions such as conversations that convey threats of bodily harm. Consent counts as obtained if one person announces the recording in a reasonably effective way and the announcement is itself recorded. |
Florida (§ 934.03) | Intercepting a wire, oral, or electronic communication is lawful when all parties have given prior consent, apart from listed exceptions. A violation can be a third-degree felony. |
Maryland (Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402) | Intercepting a communication is lawful where the person is a party and all parties have given prior consent, apart from listed exceptions. A violation is a felony. |
Each statute has definitions and exceptions that this table leaves out. Calls and video meetings with people in other states also raise the question of which state's law applies. Both are questions for a lawyer licensed in the state concerned.
Your employer's rules come on top
Check your employee handbook or code of conduct for anything about recording meetings, calls, or the workplace. Breaking a workplace rule can lead to discipline even where a state statute would allow the recording, and workplaces that handle client, patient, or customer information may have separate confidentiality rules.
If you want an accurate account of a meeting, you can ask openly: “I'd like to record this so I have an accurate record. Is that all right?” If the answer is no, take notes, or ask whether someone can take notes and share them afterward. For harassment, the EEOC suggests following the reporting steps in your employer's anti-harassment policy, and says the law protects you from retaliation for reporting harassment or taking part in an investigation.
Why notes written the same day still help
A note is your own account, so it doesn't depend on anyone's consent. Write it as soon as you safely can: the date and time, where you were, who was there, the words you remember exactly (in quotation marks), and what you only remember roughly (marked as a paraphrase). Keep the date you wrote it separate from the date it happened. After a meeting, a short follow-up email (“To confirm what we discussed today…”) also leaves a dated message that both of you have.
A fictional example: “Thursday, October 8, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., my manager's office, door closed. I asked about the schedule change. He raised his voice and said, ‘If you keep pushing this, you won't like what happens.’ No one else present. I said I'd follow up by email and left. Email sent 4:15 p.m. Written 6:05 p.m. the same day.” It records the words, the time, and the follow-up without guessing at his reasons.
The free incident log template uses the same prompts, and how to document workplace incidents covers what to prepare before HR. If you keep voice memos of your own account, see notes app or voice memos: a memo of you describing what happened is different from recording other people.
Safety first, then advice
If you are threatened or in danger, call 911 and get somewhere safe; don't stay to record. For your own situation, a lawyer licensed in your state can explain which rules apply. USA.gov lists free and low-cost legal help, such as the Legal Services Corporation and LawHelp.org. For harassment or discrimination, the EEOC says you can meet with it to discuss your situation and options, that the conversation is confidential, and that a charge has a 180- or 300-day time limit depending on where you work; see how to file an EEOC complaint.
Kirokune keeps your notes, photos, and recordings in one case on your iPhone, in date order, and lets you set when something happened separately from when you saved it. Its recorder can hold a voice note of your own account right after a conversation. The free version includes one case with unlimited records and needs no account; PDF export is a Kirokune Plus (paid) feature. Kirokune doesn't sync or keep its own cloud copy; if iPhone backup (iCloud or a computer) is on, your records are included in it. It does not decide what happened, tell you whether a recording is allowed where you are, or give legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it legal to record a conversation at work in the US?
- It depends on the state and on your employer's rules. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)) generally allows a person who is part of a conversation to record it unless the purpose is criminal or tortious, but some states, such as Washington, Florida, and Maryland, require the consent of all parties, and an employer policy can restrict recording at work. A lawyer licensed in your state can tell you how the rules apply to you.
- Which states require all-party consent to record?
- We read three statutes on October 14, 2026: Washington (RCW 9.73.030), Florida (§ 934.03), and Maryland (Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402) require the consent of all parties, with exceptions. That is not a complete list. Read your own state's statute on its legislature's website, or ask a lawyer, before relying on any list.
- Can I record a meeting with HR or my boss?
- The same state rules and workplace policies apply. The simplest route is to ask at the start whether you may record. If the answer is no, take notes, ask for the meeting notes or a summary afterward, and send a short email confirming what was said.
- Can I be disciplined for recording at work?
- It's possible. Some employers set rules on recording in a handbook or code of conduct, and breaking a workplace rule can lead to discipline even where state law would allow the recording. Read the policy first, and ask a lawyer if you're unsure how it applies.
- What can I do instead of recording?
- Write a note the same day with the date, time, place, who was there, and the words you remember, marking paraphrases. Send a follow-up email after meetings, and keep emails and messages as they are. These are your own records and don't depend on anyone's consent.
Sources
- U.S. Code — 18 U.S.C. § 2511, Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications prohibited (govinfo, 2023 edition) (checked 2026-10-14)
- Washington State Legislature — RCW 9.73.030, Intercepting, recording, or divulging private communication (checked 2026-10-14)
- The Florida Legislature — 2026 Florida Statutes § 934.03 (checked 2026-10-14)
- Maryland General Assembly — Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 10-402 (checked 2026-10-14)
- EEOC — What you should know: what to do if you believe you have been harassed at work (checked 2026-10-14)
- USA.gov — Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid (checked 2026-10-14)
Kirokune helps you keep a record. It does not diagnose, decide what happened, or give legal advice.