Employee Privacy Policy Information
Alternate Names:
An Employee Privacy Policy is also known as an:
- Employee Privacy Policy Statement
- Employee Privacy Policy Template
What is an Employee Privacy Policy?
An Employee Privacy Policy outlines an employee's personal privacy rights while in the workplace and details the employer's policies, procedures, and practices regarding the collection, storage, and disclosure of employee personal information (such as their legal name, residential address, and other identity information).
Typically, a policy is a general, company-wide document applicable to all employees as opposed to an individualized document provided to one employee.
What is included in an Employee Privacy Policy?
An Employee Privacy Policy typically includes:
- The company's name and address
- Details about what information the employer may collect
- A description of what is considered personal information
- Particulars on how information will be stored and/or disclosed
- Clarification on how disputes will be handled, if any (i.e. through mediation, arbitration, or both)
LawDepot's Employee Privacy Policy allows you to add a revision date (i.e. the date the policy was created or revised) and a revision number for organizational purposes. Using a date and number is recommended as it ensures employers and employees are able to distinguish an outdated policy from a current policy.
Can my employer disclose personal information?
An Employee Privacy Policy will outline what an employer can and cannot disclose to others.
Generally, an employer may use or disclose personal information if:
- The employee provides consent to the disclosure
- The employer is giving an employment reference to prospective employers for the employee
- The employee wishes to take part in health benefits provided by the employer
- There is an emergency and physical safety is at risk
- The reason for disclosure aligns with the reason the information was collected in the first place (for instance, if information was collected to hire and evaluate an employee, it can be used to determine if an employee should be promoted or not)
- Federal or state laws, a court order, a warrant, or a government or legal authority instructs the disclosure of certain information
Should my company collect medical information?
Depending on the industry, you may need to collect medical information from employees (such as their medical history or recovery status after an injury).
If you decide to collect medical information, an Employee Privacy Policy can be used to notify employees of your intention to obtain this information.
Keep in mind, medical information has a higher standard of privacy and thus requires more protection during storage compared to general employee information.
That said, collecting medical information in the workplace is not uncommon, and employers may be required to do so in various situations, for instance, if:
- A job applicant or employee has a disability and requires workplace accommodation
- A job applicant is being considered for a position that requires a medical examination
- An employee has illness or disease that may require emergency treatment or assistance from others
- An employee has an illness or disease that may require time off work
- An employee is obtaining health insurance
- An employee is submitting a workers' compensation claim
How should drug and alcohol testing be handled?
An Employee Privacy Policy outlines what information will be collected during employee drug and alcohol testing.
Generally, employers test for drugs and alcohol for certain reasons or at select times, such as:
- When the employer is considering an applicant for hire and wishes to see if the employee fits the position's drug-free requirements
- If the employer has a reasonable suspicion that the employee is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol while at work
- When the employee returns to work after spending time in an alcohol or drug rehabilitation program
- If the job is safety-sensitive (e.g. construction or trades jobs)
- In response to a workplace accident
Some employers may wish to implement random drug and alcohol testing to ensure a drug-free workplace. However, reviewing your jurisdiction's regulations on testing before doing so is essential as some states, such as Florida and Connecticut, prohibit employers from testing employees randomly whereas other states, such as Alaska and Arizona, do not have such rules in place. Keep in mind, there are no all-encompassing federal laws regarding substance testing in the workplace.
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