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Nichola Griffin
Member - 4 posts
Hi,
Does the Data Protection Act extend to cover employees personal/sensitive details being discussed in the hearing of non-authorised (i.e. non HR personnel) people?
Thanks in advance,
Nichola
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janet burton
Member - 84 posts
The Data Protection Act will usually cover employee information - except where it is kept in 'simple manual files', and is not readily accessible to someone looking for specific information.
If it is covered, then no-one at any level should disclose personal information 'outside of the organisation's procedures', or for their own purposes.
So if HR personnel are discussing info as part of their job, and someone not in HR overhears, then they are not permitted to disclose it except as part of their job - because they are covered by the DPA too.
There are a few good practice notes and advice on the Intranet, but obviously the best advice is for such issues only to be discussed in private with those who need to know - and if that is written into the organisation HR guidelines, then any staff discussing it in a 'nonsecure' way are at fault.
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Nigel DuPree
Member - 171 posts
I am sorry Nicola, you must be mortified at the lack of respect and sensitivity shown by your employers and would be entitled to complain as I am sure were you to openly discuss your employers business they would not ignore it and some diciplinary action would follow.
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David Ransome
Member - 21 posts
Absolutely with Janet & Nigel! Dissemination of personal data in any format is covered I understand - and I once worked with an Assistant DP Registrar who said just that.
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