What do I have to consider as an employer when handling employee data?
January 8, 2022 | 65,00 EUR | answered by Andrea Schlattmann
Dear Data Protection Attorney,
My name is Alexander Rapp and I run a medium-sized company in the IT industry. In my company, sensitive employee data is processed and stored on a daily basis. Lately, I have heard more and more about data protection breaches in other companies and I am therefore concerned about the security of my employees' data.
My question to you is: What do I, as an employer, need to consider when handling employee data to ensure that all legal requirements are met and my employees' data is protected? Are there specific measures that I should take to prevent data protection breaches? How can I ensure that my employees' data is processed securely and in compliance with the law?
I would greatly appreciate your help and expertise in this area, as the protection of my employees' data is very important to me. Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Alexander Rapp
Dear Mr. Rapp,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the handling of employee data in your company. As a lawyer specializing in data protection law, I can provide you with some important points to consider to ensure that your employees' data is protected and all legal requirements are met.
First and foremost, it is important for you as an employer to ensure that your employees' data is only collected, processed, and used for the specific purpose for which it was collected. This means you must be transparent and clearly inform your employees about what data is being collected for what purpose and how it is being protected. Additionally, you must ensure that the data can only be accessed and processed by authorized personnel.
Furthermore, you should take measures to prevent data breaches. This includes implementing technical and organizational measures to protect your employees' data from unauthorized access, loss, or theft. Measures such as encryption, access controls, regular security checks, and training for your employees may be necessary.
To ensure that your employee data is processed securely and in compliance with the law, I also recommend creating a data protection concept. This should document all measures taken to comply with data protection regulations. Additionally, you should conduct regular data protection audits to ensure that your processes comply with legal requirements.
It is also advisable to appoint a data protection officer who is responsible for ensuring compliance with data protection regulations in your company. This can be done either internally or externally, depending on the size and nature of your business.
Overall, it is important for you as an employer to take data protection seriously and take active measures to protect your employees' data. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am happy to help.
Best regards,
Andrea Schlattmann
Lawyer specializing in data protection law
