What are the laws governing employee privacy?

The laws governing employee privacy in Maryland are a combination of state and federal laws. The federal law, called the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), and the Maryland Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) both provide workplace privacy protections for Maryland employees. The ECPA requires employers to keep employee information confidential, such as emails and other electronic messages, and protects employees from employers accessing their private emails without their permission. Meanwhile, the PIPA puts multiple safeguards in place to protect employee personal information, such as Social Security numbers, banking information, and more. It gives employees the power to access their own employee files and the right to privacy with respect to personal data collected by the employer. Employers must post a notice informing employees that their personal information is being collected, and also must receive written, informed consent from an employee before collecting or using their personal information. Any collected information must be stored securely and employees must also be notified if their information is disclosed to any third party. Employers must also comply with federal and state laws when it comes to storing and disposing of any private employee data. It is important for employers to comply with these employee privacy laws as they may be subject to penalization if found in violation.

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