Confidentiality in the workplace

For immersion

1. Work Immersion

2. Lesson 4 Confidentiality in the Workplace Work Immersion

3. Confidentiality Confidentiality is the protection of personal information. Work Immersion

4. Confidentiality Work Immersion Confidentiality refers to not discussing internal goings-on with co-workers. In other instances, it refers to not sharing trade secrets and other company information with competitors, the press or anyone outside of your company.

5. The types of information that is considered confidential can include: 1. name, date of birth, age, sex and address 2. current contact details of family, guardian etc 3. bank details Work Immersion 4. medical history or records 5 . personal care issues

6. The types of information that is considered confidential can include: 6 . service records and file progress notes 7 . individual personal plans 8 . assessments or reports Work Immersion 9 . guardianship orders 10. incoming or outgoing personal correspondence .

7. Other information relating to ethic or racial origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health or sexual lifestyle should also be considered confidential. Work Immersion The types of information that is considered confidential can include:

8. Maintaining confidentiality include: Separate folders should be kept for both all employees form and employee medical information. 2. All confidential documents should be stored in locked file cabinets or rooms accessible only to those who have a business “need-to-know.” 3. All confidential information should be protected via firewalls, encryption and passwords. Work Immersion

9. Maintaining confidentiality include: 3. Employees should clear their desks of any confidential information before going home at the end of the day. 4. Employees should refrain from leaving confidential information visible on their computer monitors when they leave their work stations. 5 . All confidential information, whether contained on written documents or electronically, should be marked as “confidential.” Work Immersion

10. Maintaining confidentiality include: 6 . All confidential information should be disposed of properly . 7 . Employees should refrain from discussing confidential information in public places. 8. Employees should avoid using e-mail to transmit certain sensitive or controversial information. Work Immersion

11. Maintaining confidentiality include: 9. Limit the acquisition of confidential client data (e.g., social security numbers, bank accounts, or driver’s license numbers) unless it is integral to the business transaction and restrict access on a “need-to-know’ basis. 10. Before disposing of an old computer, use software programs to wipe out the data contained on the computer or have the hard drive destroyed. Work Immersion

12. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 1. Employee Information Many states have laws which govern the confidentiality and disposal of “personal identifying information” a. an employee’s Social Security number, b . home address or telephone number, c . e-mail address, d . Internet identification name or password,

13. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 1. Employee Information Many states have laws which govern the confidentiality and disposal of “personal identifying information” e . parent’s surname prior to marriage , f . driver’s license number, g. employee medical and disability information

14. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 2. Management Information Confidential management information includes discussions about employee relations issues, a . disciplinary actions, b . impending layoffs/reductions-in-force, c . terminations, d . workplace investigations of employee misconduct .

15. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 3. Business Information We oftentimes refer to confidential business information as “proprietary information” or “trade secrets.” This refers to information that’s not generally known to the public and would not ordinarily be available to competitors by illegal or improper means .

16. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 3. Business Information a. Common examples of “trade secrets” b . business plans, c . financial data, d . budgets and forecasts, e . computer programs and data compilation,

17. Confidential Workplace Three Categories 3. Business Information f . client/customer lists, g . ingredient formulas and recipes, h . membership or employee lists, i . supplier lists

18. Importance of Confidentiality in Workplace  Confidentiality is important for a lot of varied reasons. The data pertaining to recruitment, compensation, and management of employees is naturally sensitive. In the wrong hands, this information could be misused to commit fraud, discrimination, and other violations. Some of the important reasons for maintaining confidentiality are as:

19. 1 . Professionalism To maintain a general degree of professionalism, it is important that your personal details remain personal. Disclose your personal details to only a few people and that too with discretion. Getting over-friendly with colleagues is a major cause of office issues. Importance of Confidentiality in Workplace 

20. 2 . Safety Personal details like annual income, marital status, and remuneration, if revealed, can be misused to cause trouble to you or your organization. Importance of Confidentiality in Workplace 

21. 3. Security You may have access to sensitive information of the organization and some of your personal details, like date of birth, could be your access code. In this case, maintaining confidentiality becomes important for the security of the information that is at your disposal. Importance of Confidentiality in Workplace