What is privacy in the workplace?

Privacy in the workplace is the right to be free from unreasonable intrusion when it comes to your personal information. In West Virginia, employers must abide by state and federal laws to protect employee’s privacy in the workplace. This includes only collecting information that is relevant to the job. Employers must also make sure all employee information is stored securely and not shared with anyone outside of the organization. Employers must provide notice of any surveillance technologies they use in the workplace. This includes video cameras, audio recordings, phone taps, GPS tracking devices, and social media monitoring software. These must be used in limited and appropriate ways. The West Virginia Constitution also protects Pennsylvania employees from search and inspection without a warrant, especially of private areas such as desks, filers, and lockers. Employers also are not allowed to inspect or read emails, texts, or other electronic communications on an employee’s personal device or account. Finally, employers in West Virginia must abide by the laws of medical privacy. This includes confidentiality for all medical records related to employees. It also prohibits employers from asking questions related to medical matters before or during the job interview process.

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What is privacy in the workplace?

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