Before hitting the record button, take a look at the legal implications and potential pitfalls. Some hypothetical examples put the choices in context. When the director of a retirement community decides to fire a personal care assistant, he knows a confrontation is likely, so he conceals a tape recorder nearby. Taping is a smart move. The answer depends on geography.
Laws differ from state to state.
For example, if the director is in Tennessee, he can tape an in-person or telephone conversation assuming the director is a participant or has advance permission from a participant and does not plan to use the tape illegally. If he is in Pennsylvania, though, prudence dictates another choice. There, taping that same conversation is a felony unless all participants give permission in advance. Of course, there is federal law to consider. While some states parallel U.S. law, Pennsylvania and other states can opt for more stringent laws.