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Privacy

Management Lessons From the Court

08/01/2004

Don’t open an employee’s’ personal mail If you know that a letter or package sent to that person at work is personal (not business related). A recent court ruling shows that you may be opening up a legal mess along with the letter …

Camera phones at work: Shoot down this latest legal threat

06/01/2004
Camera phones now make up more than 4 percent of all worldwide cell phone sales. By 2007, more than half of all cell phones will be equipped with cameras, and cell …

Using GPS to track employees: Know your rights, responsibilities

05/01/2004
It’s a fact: A small but growing number of employers use location-awareness technology, better known as global positioning systems, or GPS, to help keep track of their employees, boost productivity, sharpen …

3 privacy ‘musts’ for securing employee data

04/01/2004

Issue: You’re responsible for securing sensitive employee information. Benefits: Privacy measures and policies protect employees from identity theft and privacy invasion. Actions: Refine your privacy policy, institute a proper …

You can monitor workers’ e-mail, but notify them first

03/01/2004
Employees won’t sue you for snooping in their e-mail if you make it clear (early and often) that it’s not their e-mail. It’s your property, and you hold the right to …

Small organizations: Prepare for looming HIPAA deadline

03/01/2004
Last year, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) required organizations that sponsored large health care plans (more than $5 million in premiums or claims) to start complying with …

E-mail/Internet use: You have power to set, enforce policy

03/01/2004
THE LAW. Don’t believe employees’ claims about their desktop privacy. Current laws give your organization wide latitude to monitor and restrict employees’ use of e-mail, the Internet and other computer …

Keep health data private: ‘HIPAA time’ nears for small firms

02/01/2004
Issue: The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) places new privacy requirements on employers. Risk: Smaller businesses must start complying in April. Fines range from $100 per violation …

Personnel Files: How Separate Must They Be?

11/01/2003

Q. In a previous issue you said employers “must keep certain records separate from personnel files.” What, specifically, does “separate” mean—in separate drawers of the same file cabinet? In separate offices? How far apart do they need to be? —T.S., Illinois

Don’t ‘call out’ staff slackers in public

10/01/2003
Reprimands and demotions are a normal part of managing people. But don’t let supervisors take it a step further by broadcasting a reprimand to those with no reason to know.
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