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 Using a date and number is recommended as it ensures employers and employees are able to distinguish an outdated policy from a current policy.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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Employee Privacy Policy

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EMPLOYEE PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT

_________________________

___________________________________

Introduction
This Employee Privacy Policy Statement (the “Privacy Policy”) contains the policies, procedures and practices to be followed by _________________________ and any of its present or future subsidiaries (the “Company”) pertaining to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information (the “Personal Information”) of an identifiable person (the “Individual”) that is a present, future or former employee of the Company.
The Company recognizes the confidential nature of the Personal Information in its care and is accountable for the compliance of itself and its directors, officers, management, employees, representatives and agents including consultants and independent contractors (the “Staff”) in protecting this Personal Information.
For the purpose of this Privacy Policy, the term “Personal Information” has the meaning of any information or collection of information in any form, whether oral, electronic or written that pertains to the Individual excluding information that is publicly available in its entirety. Personal Information will also include any publicly available information that is combined with non-publicly available information.
Personal Information includes but is not limited to name, home address, home phone number, home email address, identity verification information, Social Security Number, physical description, age, gender, salary, education, professional designation, personal hobbies and activities, medical history, employment history, credit history, contents of resume, references, interview notes, performance review notes and emergency contact information.
Personal Information will not include the Individual's business title, and business address and contact information when used or disclosed for the purposes of reasonable business communication.
The Company will implement policies and procedures that give effect to this Privacy Policy including procedures to protect and secure Personal Information, procedures to receive, investigate and resolve complaints, procedures to ensure adequate training of the Staff concerning the Company's privacy policies, and procedures to distribute new and current information pertaining to the Company's Privacy Policy.
Corporate Privacy Policy
The Company and the Staff will at all times respect the confidentiality of the Personal Information placed in its care. The Company will endeavor to ensure that the policies affecting the collection, storage and disclosure of Personal Information reflect the confidential nature of the information.
The Company will comply with all applicable privacy legislation and regulations in force now and in the future related to protecting the confidentiality of Personal Information.
Purposes for which Personal Information is Collected
Personal Information will be collected, used and disclosed for purposes pertaining to the Individual's employment relationship with the Company, including but not limited to the administration of employee hiring, performance reviews, the administration of employee payroll, processing of employee benefit claims, and for the purpose of complying with all applicable labor and employment legislation.
The purposes for collecting Personal Information will be documented by the Company. Personal Information will only be used for the stated purpose or purposes for which it was originally collected. The purposes for which Personal Information is being collected will be identified orally or in writing to the Individual before it is collected. The person collecting the information will be able to explain the purpose at the time that the information is collected.
The Company may use Personal Information for a purpose other than the originally stated purpose where the new purpose is required by law or where the Company has obtained consent in writing from the affected Individual for each new purpose.
Knowledge and Consent
Knowledge and consent are required from the affected Individual for the collection, use and disclosure of all Personal Information subject to exceptions noted elsewhere in the Privacy Policy statement.
Consent will not be obtained through deception or misrepresentation.
Any use or disclosure of Personal Information will be within the reasonable expectations of the Individual.
Subject to legal and contractual obligations, an Individual may withdraw their consent on reasonable notice.
Legislation and Regulation
Where the Company has Individuals living and working in different jurisdictions the specific rights and obligations of Individuals may vary between jurisdictions.
The Company is subject to the privacy legislation in all jurisdictions in which the Company operates. If any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Privacy Policy is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, it is the intent of this Privacy Policy that the scope of the rights and obligations of the Privacy Policy be reduced only for the affected jurisdiction and only to the extent deemed necessary under the laws of the local jurisdiction to render the provision reasonable and enforceable and the remainder of the provisions of the Privacy Policy statement will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated as a result.
Where this Privacy Policy provides greater rights and protections to the Individual than the available governing law, the terms of this Privacy Policy will prevail wherever allowed by law.
Scope and Application
The rights and obligations described in this Privacy Policy will apply to all Individuals. The Company and the Staff must comply with the policies, procedures and practices described in the Privacy Policy.
Collection of Personal Information
The type and amount of Personal Information collected by the Company will be limited to the minimum necessary to accomplish reasonable business purposes. Personal Information will not be collected maliciously, indiscriminately or without a reasonable business purpose.
Personal Information will be collected using fair and lawful means.
Access by Authorized Company Representatives
All Personal Information will be released internally only on a need-to-know basis. In the course of normal and reasonable business practices it is the policy of the Company to grant designated Company representatives access to Personal Information files. This access will not exceed that necessary to accomplish the specific business function of the Company representative nor the purpose for which the information was originally collected.
Accuracy of Personal Information
The Company will endeavor to ensure that all Personal Information collected is accurate and validated using reasonable business practices and procedures. The Company is also committed to ensuring that the Personal Information remains accurate for the purpose for which it was collected.
Rights of Access and Correction
The Company will make reasonable efforts to ensure that Personal Information is at all times complete and accurate for its stated purpose.
An Individual may apply for access to their Personal Information by submitting a request in writing along with adequate proof of identity to an authorized personnel officer. Where the application is made in person the requirement for proof of identity will be at the discretion of the personnel officer. The Individual will be provided with a copy of all available information that is not subject to restriction as described in this Privacy Policy. All Personal Information and Medical Information will be provided at no cost or at a minimal cost that is not prohibitive.
The Company will also provide a specific summary of how the Personal Information has been used and to whom it has been disclosed. Where a detailed account of disclosure is not available, the Company will provide a list of organizations to which the Personal Information may have been disclosed.
The Personal Information disclosed to an Individual must be in a form that is reasonable and understandable. Where the meaning of information is not clear then translations and explanations will be provided without additional cost.
Where an Individual suspects that an error exists in their Personal Information, the Individual may submit a request in writing for correction. This request should include any relevant information substantiating the error and should describe the correction to be made. The Company will make all reasonable efforts to address any request for correction.
Where the Individual successfully demonstrates an error in their Personal Information the Company will make appropriate corrections. Any modifications, additions or deletions to the Individual's Personal Information will be made only by an authorized personnel officer.
Where a request for correction is not successful, the details and substantiating evidence of the request will be recorded and retained by the Company.
The Company will endeavor to respond promptly to any reasonable request for disclosure and correction made by an Individual to ensure the continued accuracy of Personal Information.
In some instances the Company may be required to limit access to Personal Information because of statutory or regulatory requirements. In all instances however the Company will make all reasonable efforts to comply with the Individual's request for access and correction to the extent of what is allowed by statute or regulation.
The Company may refuse access to portions of the Personal Information of an Individual where it is found to contain Personal Information pertaining to another Individual.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
The Company and the Staff will keep confidential all Personal Information in its control except where one or more of the following conditions apply:
1. where the Individual who is the subject of disclosure has provided written consent;
2. where the disclosure is in accord with the purposes for which the Personal Information was originally collected;
3. where the disclosure is for the purpose of providing employment references to prospective employers and where the Personal Information disclosed is limited to information considered reasonably necessary for the purpose of providing employment references;
4. where the Company is permitted or required to do so by applicable legislation or regulation;
5. where the disclosure is directed to health benefit providers and where the purpose of the disclosure is in accord with the purposes for which the Personal Information was originally collected;
6. where the disclosure is required by authorized government representatives who are acting to enforce any federal or state law or carrying out an investigation relating to the enforcement of any federal or state law or gathering information for the purpose of enforcing any federal or state law;
7. where the Company is required to comply with valid court orders, warrants or subpoenas or other valid legal processes and
8. in an emergency to protect the physical safety of any person or group of persons.
Ownership of Personal Information
All Personal Information collected by the Company in compliance with this Privacy Policy are business records of the
Retention and Disposal of Personal Information
Any Personal Information collected by the Company will be retained by the Company during the period of active employment of the Individual as well as during the post-employment period only as long as the Personal Information is required to serve its original purpose or as directed by applicable legislation or regulation.
Personal Information that is no longer needed for its stated purpose will be destroyed, erased or made anonymous.
The Company will ensure that all practices and procedures relating to the disposal of Personal Information will respect the fundamental policy of confidentiality. All Personal Information disposal procedures, including the disposal of computerized data storage devices, will ensure the complete destruction of Personal Information so that there will be no risk of subsequent unauthorized disclosure of Personal Information.
Deceased Individuals
The rights and protections of the Company's Privacy Policies will extend to deceased Individuals.
Security
The Company will take and enforce all reasonable security measures appropriate for the sensitivity of the information to ensure that all Personal Information for every Individual is protected against any form of unauthorized use including but not limited to accidental or malicious disclosure, unauthorized access, unauthorized modification, unauthorized duplication or theft.
Methods of security will include but not be limited to the following:
1. physical security including locked filing cabinets and secure-access offices;
2. organizational security including security clearances and access limited on a “need-to-know” basis and
3. technological security including passwords and encryption.
The Company will educate and inform all Staff regarding the Privacy Policy and related procedures and on the importance of confidentiality of Personal Information and will monitor compliance with the Privacy Policy and may observe and investigate the information management practices of all Staff having care of Personal Information.
Knowledge of Unauthorized Disclosure
Responsibility for the security of Personal Information is a responsibility that the Company holds in very serious regard. Any Staff having knowledge of an impending unauthorized disclosure, whether intentional or unintentional, and who fail to act to prevent the unauthorized breach will be subject to sanction as described in the Enforcement section of this document including the immediate dismissal of the offending Staff.
Enforcement
All Staff having care over Personal Information must comply with the policies, procedures and practices described in the Privacy Policy. Any breach of any term or condition of this Privacy Policy, whether intentional or unintentional, including but not limited to the unauthorized disclosure of Personal Information is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including the immediate dismissal of any and all responsible Staff. Any breach of any term or condition of this Privacy Policy, whether intentional or unintentional, is grounds for dismissal with cause.
Compliance with Privacy Policy
The Company will have a procedure that will allow Individuals to challenge the Company's compliance with this Privacy Policy. The Company will also have procedures to promptly respond to Privacy Policy compliance challenges.
The Company will make all reasonable efforts to investigate and respond to compliance challenges relating to this Privacy Policy. Where a challenge is well founded the Company will take action to correct any outstanding problems up to and including amending the Privacy Policy and related procedures.
Arbitration
In the event a dispute arises out of or in connection with this Privacy Policy, the parties will first attempt to resolve the dispute through friendly consultation.
If the dispute is not resolved within a reasonable period then any or all outstanding issues may be submitted to final and binding arbitration in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The arbitrator's award will be final, and judgment may be entered upon it by any court having jurisdiction within the Commonwealth of Virginia