Whether it is to ensure productivity or to maintain security, workplace monitoring has now become a critical requirement followed by a number of businesses around the globe. However, workplace monitoring needs to be done in a transparent and effective manner.

If you want workplace monitoring to succeed, it is highly necessary that you take care of employee privacy requirements and not invade their privacy. Employee privacy rights are a norm in most countries today and limit the way you monitor employees in the workplace. Company policies usually dictate privacy rights, but there still are a number of grey areas that should be avoided.

There are ways to manage employee activity and productivity in the workplace without invading their privacy. In this article, we look at some of the techniques you can follow to improve employee privacy in your firm and ensure compliance with state laws and regulations. Stick with us as we take you through some privacy management procedures.

Protect Confidential Information

As an employer, you have an ethical and moral responsibility to protect all personal information pertaining to your employees. Personal information including that related to the social security number of your employees should be kept safe. Also, employers should ensure that they shred old documents whenever they aren’t needed anymore.

Additionally, the following information should be kept confidential in secure hands:

  • Private firms are allowed to conduct regular alcohol and drug tests, but the results pertaining to them are not allowed to be released legally.
  • Personal body searches should be conducted in complete privacy, including vehicle searches.
  • Background checks on prospective employees should be kept private.
  • If you record the GPS coordinates of your employees, make sure that they are kept confidential.

Only Use Employee Data for Intended Purposes

If you are collecting employee data for specific purposes, make sure that the data is only utilized for its intended purpose. Employers that use employee data for purposes not identified or specified are infringing their employee rights.

As an employer and manager, you need to prioritize the protection of employee data and need to ensure that it is only used in specific cases.

Have an Employee Monitoring Policy

An employee monitoring policy is necessary for ensuring that your employees understand the monitoring processes in play within your organization. In your monitoring policy, you should assure employees that their personal information is protected, and that the data gathered through this activity is only used for workplace safety and productivity purposes.

We at JS Benefits Group have worked with organizations to manage privacy in the workplace. You can get in touch with JS Benefits Group to discuss and devise a strategy.