Your employees expect some privacy at work, but they may not the extent of their rights. Can employers monitor computer files, emails, or telephone calls? And if you maintain an online presence, should your website include a privacy statement to inform visitors how you use their information?
The answers to these questions depend on the industry you are in and whether you are subject to federal law. To learn how to protect the rights of your employees and visitors to your website, consult an Alpharetta privacy policy lawyer. At Sparks Law, one of our knowledgeable attorneys can help you better understand this area of law and draft effective statements for your business.
People visiting a company’s website want to know what information is being collected and how it will be used. For instance, retail sites may collect credit card information along with the cardholder’s name and address. A cardholder may be more willing to share sensitive information if they know that it is encrypted and will not be shared with third parties. This is where an online privacy policy comes in.
A company’s online privacy policy explains how information is collected and lets users know what they share with third parties. If some visitors do not want their personal information shared, they should be able to opt out through the website privacy policy. Personal information is anything that helps identify a person, such as their name, street address, and phone number. Other personal information a website may gather and share with a third party includes:
As online commerce continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to let consumers know that their personal information is safe. A skilled lawyer at our Alpharetta office could help draft a privacy policy that meets your business needs.
According to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a business website geared towards children under twelve years of age must not share certain information with third parties. It must also clearly display its privacy policy on the site.
Financial institutions overseen by The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act are also restricted in what they can share regarding financial information gathered from customers. These institutions must post detailed privacy policies about how they share permitted information with third parties.
Physicians routinely give patients access to online portals for retrieving medical test results and treatments. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), privacy policies must be posted on the doctor’s office wall and online. The knowledgeable attorneys at Sparks Law can provide more information about what businesses are subject to federal privacy policy laws.
Employers may have the right to monitor employees to ensure they are not sending personal emails or taking personal phone calls on company time. Georgia courts view privacy under the lens of the common law. The four violations of privacy include:
If a company would be compromised by leaked information, such as a top-secret government project, it may be lawful for the business to monitor employees at work and even away from it. Business owners concerned with policy and procedure should contact our experienced local attorneys to discuss privacy at work and online.
Now more than ever, jobs are requiring employees to complete their work using computers. Business owners should discuss with an Alpharetta privacy policy lawyer to ensure that their employees and customers know what information is being collected and how it is being used. As an employer, it is also important to know what you may or may not monitor about your employee’s online behavior. If you are a business owner who wants to know how you should handle privacy at your company, call Sparks Law today for your initial consultation.
