Data Protection and Your Business on #DataPrivacyDay

This applies to information kept on staff, customers and account holders, eg when you:

• recruit staff
• manage staff records
• market your products or services
• use CCTV

This could include:

• keeping customers’ addresses on file
• recording staff working hours
• giving delivery information to a delivery company

Data protection rules

You must make sure the information is kept secure, accurate and up to date.

For example, when you collect someone’s personal data you must tell them:

• who you are
• how you’ll use their personal information
• they have the right to see the information and correct it, if it’s wrong

Also say if the information will be used in other ways – eg if it may be passed to other organisations.

What you have to do

You must:

• tell the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) how your business uses personal information
• respond to a data protection request, if someone asks to see what information you have about them

You could be given a heavy fine or made to pay compensation if you misuse personal data.

You must keep any data you collect on staff secure – eg lock paper records in filing cabinets or set passwords for computer records.

Only keep the information for as long as you have a clear business need for it, and dispose of it securely afterwards (eg by shredding).

Recruiting staff

You must give the name of your business and contact details (or those of the agency) on job adverts.

Only collect the personal information you need on application forms, and don’t ask for irrelevant information, like banking details.

Only keep the information for recruitment – eg don’t use it for a marketing mailing list.

Keeping staff records

Make sure only appropriate staff, with the right training, can see staff records, and store sensitive information (eg about health or criminal records) separately.

If you’re asked to provide a reference, check the worker or ex-staff member is happy for you to do so.

Letting staff see their records

Your staff have the right to ask for a copy of the information you hold about them.

This includes information about grievance and disciplinary issues.

You must respond to their request within 40 days.

Staff can complain if they think their information is being misused, and you could be ordered to pay a fine or compensation.

3. Monitoring staff at work

You must be able to justify monitoring staff at work, which could include:

• using CCTV
• keeping records of phone calls
• logging their email or internet use
• searching staff or their work areas

Employees have rights at work and if you don’t treat them fairly they could:

• take you to an employment tribunal
• complain to the Information Commissioner

You must make them aware that they’re being monitored, and why – eg by sending them an email.

Also explain your policies on things like using work computers or phones for personal use.

Monitoring staff without their knowledge

You can monitor staff without their knowledge if:

• you suspect they’re breaking the law
• letting them know about it would make it hard to detect the crime

Only do this as part of a specific investigation, and stop when the investigation is over.

If your business uses CCTV, you must tell people they may be recorded.

This is usually done by displaying signs, which must be clearly visible and readable.

You must also notify the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) why you’re using the CCTV.

You should control who can see the recordings, and make sure the system is only used for the purpose it was intended for.

If the system was set up to detect crime, you should not use it to monitor the amount of work done by your staff.

Letting people see CCTV recordings

Anyone can ask to see images that you’ve recorded of them. You must provide these within 40 days, and can charge up to £10.

Find out more about using CCTV on the ICO website.

For more information and advice:

• read the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidance for organisations
• contact the ICO

Source: GOV.uk

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