Employee privacy: What are your rights?
There are privacy rights governing an employee’s personal information as well as activities in the workplace. Here are some of them: Image source: Pixabay.com Use of personal information The law protects private information held by government agencies, and not private firms. In the private sector, it is up to the employers to act in good faith in handling employee information. It is widely known, however, that employee details should only be released to those needing it for legitimate as well as legal reasons. Electronic monitoring Companies are allowed to monitor phone, computer, and email use among employees, and it is generally recommended that these policies be transparently defined and communicated to them. They usually state that employees have no expectation of privacy while on company property or using company resources. Drug and alcohol testing This is permitted within private firms, although records cannot be released legally.