Unlike many other countries, the United States does not have a comprehensive federal law that regulates the privacy of private-sector employees. Instead, the privacy protection of employees depends largely on state law, contract law, and tort law. State law may provide specific rights and remedies for employees regarding issues such as drug testing, background checks, electronic monitoring, social media access, and genetic information. Contract law may create obligations and expectations for employers and employees based on written or implied agreements, such as employment contracts, employee handbooks, or collective bargaining agreements. Tort law may allow employees to sue their employers for invasion of privacy, such as intrusion upon seclusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light, or appropriation of name or likeness. The other options are less likely to provide privacy protection to private-sector employees in the United States. The FTC Act primarily regulates the privacy practices of businesses that collect and use consumer data, not employee data. The U.S. Constitution only protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, not by private employers. The HHS only enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which applies to covered entities and business associates that handle protected health information, not to all private-sector employers. References:
IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 6: Workplace Privacy
Privacy Rights of Employees Using Workplace Computers in the United States
Employee Privacy Laws
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