Worker Wisdom℠
Employee Information and Data Privacy

Employee Information and Data Privacy

Employers collect and maintain a wide range of information about their employees, from basic contact and payroll information to medical records, background-check information, electronic communications, location data, and information generated through workplace technology.

But an employer’s right to collect information is not unlimited. Different federal, state, and local laws can regulate what employers may collect, how they obtain it, how they use it, and when they can share it.

Explore the Worker Wisdom guides below to learn more about your rights concerning employee information and workplace data privacy.

General Employee Information
  • What Information Can Your Employer Collect About You?
  • Can Your Employer Keep a Personnel File on You?
  • Can You See Your Personnel File?
  • Can Your Employer Change Your Personnel File?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Personnel File?
  • How Long Can an Employer Keep Your Personnel File?
Medical and Health Information
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Your Medical Condition?
  • Can Your Employer Ask for a Doctor’s Note?
  • Can Your Employer See Your Medical Records?
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Your Medications?
  • Can Your Employer Find Out Why You Took Medical Leave?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Medical Information With Coworkers?
  • Can Your Employer Tell Other Employees Why You Are Out Sick?
  • Can Your Former Employer Keep Your Medical Records?
Genetic Information and Family Medical History
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Your Family Medical History?
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Genetic Testing?
  • Can Your Employer Use Genetic Information Against You?
  • Can Your Employer Collect DNA Information?
Background Checks and Personal History
  • Can Your Employer Run a Background Check on You?
  • Can Your Employer Check Your Criminal Record?
  • Can Your Employer Check Your Credit?
  • Can Your Employer Contact Your Previous Employer?
  • Can Your Employer Find Out Why You Left Your Last Job?
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Your Arrest Record?
  • Can Your Employer Ask About Your Convictions?
  • Can Your Employer Use a Background Check to Fire You?
Social Media and Online Information
  • Can Your Employer Look at Your Social Media?
  • Can Your Employer Ask for Your Social Media Password?
  • Can Your Employer Fire You for a Social Media Post?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Social Media?
  • Can Your Employer Use Social Media Against You?
Employee Communications
  • Can Your Boss Read Your Emails?
  • Can Your Employer Read Your Personal Email?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Work Messages?
  • Can Your Employer Record Your Conversations?
  • Can Your Employer Listen to Your Phone Calls?
  • Can Your Employer Read Your Text Messages?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Slack or Teams Messages?
Computers, Phones, and Devices
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Computer?
  • Can Your Employer Search Your Phone at Work?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Personal Phone?
  • Can Your Employer Install Monitoring Software on Your Computer?
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Internet Activity?
  • Can Your Employer See What Websites You Visit?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Personal Computer?
  • Can Your Employer Require Monitoring Software on Your Personal Device?
Location Tracking and GPS
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Location?
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Location After Work?
  • Can Your Employer Track a Company Vehicle?
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Personal Vehicle?
  • Can Your Employer Track You While Working From Home?
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Phone’s Location?
  • Can Your Employer Use GPS to Monitor Employees?
Workplace Surveillance
  • Employee Surveillance Laws
  • Can Your Employer Monitor You While Working From Home?
  • Can Your Employer Use Cameras to Monitor Employees?
  • Can Your Employer Use Webcam Monitoring?
  • Can Your Employer Take Screenshots of Your Computer?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Employee Activity?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Employees Without Telling Them?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor You During Breaks?
Biometric Information
  • Can Your Employer Collect Your Fingerprints?
  • Can Your Employer Use Facial Recognition?
  • Can Your Employer Require a Biometric Time Clock?
  • Can Your Employer Collect Your Facial Data?
  • Can Your Employer Store Your Biometric Information?
  • What Are Your Rights Over Workplace Biometric Data?
Financial and Payroll Information
  • Can Your Employer Check Your Bank Account?
  • Can Your Employer See Your Pay History?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Salary With Other Employees?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Banking Information?
  • Can Your Employer Check Your Financial Records?
  • Can Your Employer Access Your Direct Deposit Information?
Employee Location and Remote Work
  • Can Your Employer Require You to Share Your Location?
  • Can Your Employer Track You When Working From Home?
  • Can Your Employer Require You to Turn On Your Camera?
  • Can Your Employer Monitor Your Home Office?
  • Can Your Employer Track Your Work-From-Home Activity?
  • Can Your Employer Require Location Services on Your Phone?
Employee Information and Third Parties
  • Can Employers Share Employee Information?
  • Can Your Employer Give Out Your Phone Number?
  • Can Your Employer Give Out Your Address?
  • Can Your Employer Give Your Information to Another Company?
  • Can Your Employer Sell Your Personal Information?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Information With Customers?
  • Can Your Employer Share Your Information With a Background-Check Company?
Information After You Leave Your Job
  • Can Your Former Employer Share Your Employee Records?
  • How Long Can Your Former Employer Keep Your Information?
  • Can Your Former Employer Share Your Medical Information?
  • Can Your Former Employer Give Out Your Address?
  • Can Your Former Employer Give Out Your Phone Number?
  • Can Your Former Employer Share Your Personnel File?

Employee information and data privacy can overlap with other WorkerWisdom workplace-rights topics, including:

Disclaimer

This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Employee privacy laws vary by federal, state, and local jurisdiction, and the law can depend on the specific facts of your situation. Please read our Terms and Conditions.