Legal Expertise on Privacy Issues & Policy
Concerns over privacy issues in the workplace have grown more prominent over time, and in recent years we have seen the introduction of various privacy-oriented statutes. While the application of such legislation varies from workplace to workplace, sooner or later most employers must contend with privacy-related challenges.
Privacy issues may arise in various contexts:
- e-mail and internet usage
- Personal content on social media
- video surveillance
- medical information
- employee background checks
Common questions that employees and employers ask regarding privacy in the workplace:
- Is your workplace computer and the contents contained within your personal files or do they belong to your employer?
- Does your employer have a legal right to monitor your activity with or without your knowledge? How may personal content that you post on social media impact your employment?
- As an employer, what legal rights do you have to terminate an employee based on off-duty behaviour that you have seen publicized on social media?
WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru discussed social media and privacy at work on an episode of the Employment Law Show.
Privacy Policies & Procedures
Where legislated requirements apply, there may be a requirement to establish privacy-related policies and procedures, and this may be good practice for any employer, whether subject to statutory regulation or not.
An effective privacy policy is a statement of principles and guidelines concerning the protection, handling, use, storage and disposal of personal information of customers and other individuals.
Privacy Issues: How We Can Help
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa lawyers have experience with numerous employers in reviewing and drafting privacy policies to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and principles. A proper privacy policy can significantly reduce liability for companies as a result of improper disclosure of information.
We provide authoritative advice to both unionized and non-union employers regarding a full range of privacy-related issues and concerns.