Privacy

New Texas law provides more protection for your trade secrets

06/26/2013

Under the newly enacted Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act, you will have more recourse when someone misappropriates your intellectual property. Starting Sept. 1, this new statute provides companies with greater protection for their trade secrets and expands the available legal remedies to address actual and anticipated harm.

Can we distribute employees’ contact info?

05/14/2013

Q. Do employers have the right to put employees’ address and phone numbers in a place where all employees can access them? Are there privacy issues? Should we get employees’ permission?

Prepare now for the data breach that will inevitably hit you

04/25/2013

Most companies maintain large amounts of data about their employees, some of which may be considered personally identifiable information. It must be carefully guarded to ensure employee privacy and prevent identity theft. You must understand the relevant laws and your obligations to protect employee data.

Firing for Facebook post doesn’t violate Texas privacy law

01/09/2013

Recently, a Texas appeals court was asked to determine whether firing an employee because of a Facebook post violated that employee’s state law privacy rights. The court held that it did not.

Can we put worker’s photo & info on our website?

11/29/2012

Q. On our company website, we post employees’ pictures and a brief overview of their education and professional background. Recently, an employee asked us to remove her information for security reasons. She fears someone may google her name and find out where she works and the area she lives. Thoughts?

Sick-day details on company calendar: Too risky?

11/20/2012

Disclosing on a company calendar that an employee is out because of sickness or FMLA leave is problematic. An employer should never disclose that absences are due to medical or health reasons. You must maintain the confidentiality of such information.

Third state bars access to staff Facebook passwords

10/30/2012

California last month became the third state to enact a law that prohibits employers from asking applicants or employees for their passwords to social media sites. Illinois and Maryland had passed similar laws earlier this year.

New state law limits access to employee social media info

10/22/2012

Starting Jan. 1, California employers may no longer require or request employees or job applicants to reveal their social media user names, passwords or other account information.

New Illinois law bars employer access to social media accounts

09/20/2012

Some employers have recently begun to require employees and applicants to provide their passwords or otherwise allow access to their social media accounts. The Illinois Legislature has now put a stop to that practice.

Facebook could prove our employee lied! How far can we go to gain access?

09/17/2012

Q. One our employees called in sick for a shift during a recent holiday weekend. He told several co-workers that he didn’t come to work because he was having so much fun at his cabin. According to a few co-workers, he made several Facebook posts about his various recreational activities on the day that he was allegedly too sick to work … Can I ask one of the co-workers to show me the Facebook posts?