Privacy In The Workplace, Trading Personal Info For A Job
I want to talk about privacy in the workplace. I’m in the process of moving to a new job with a new company, and I’m excited about it. It’s moving back into the sector I want to work in, and I’ll be working at a hospice where my aunt spent the last days of her life. It will be wonderful that even though it’s an office job, I’ll feel like I’m working somewhere that does work that matters. Work that makes a massive difference to the lives of others.
Before we go any further, I want to stress I am not a civil libertarian or privacy nut. In general, I’m ok with there being a shit ton of data about me held in computer systems worldwide. Why? Because I have nothing to hide. BUT, and it’s a big but, that doesn’t mean I feel comfortable airing a lot of information that I consider personal to get a job.
The Inevitable Forms
As anyone who has started a new job knows, moving to a new company involves filling out a lot of paperwork. You need to fill out payroll information, sign up for the pension scheme, list emergency contacts, and nominate next of kin if you have life insurance. I’m fine with these things because I can see why they are necessary. What I’m not happy with is some of the other forms I was asked to complete.
Before I explain why I’m unhappy, I want to point out that this new employer is not the only one who has asked for this information. I’m just getting increasingly sick of having my privacy invaded in order to earn a living. At what point does lack of privacy in the workplace become too much of an issue?
What They Want To Know
The first form I objected to was then one asking me to explain any gaps in my employment over the last ten years. This is a perfectly easy thing for me to do. I have one gap, of three months, from about five years ago. I was studying for a professional qualification and wanted to do it full time rather than fitting it in along with a full-time job. My chronic fatigue had developed by then, and I was worried it would be too much for me.
What if it hadn’t been that simple, though? What if it had been a period of severe mental illness? I might have been sexually assaulted or raped. I could have been badly beaten up by my husband, a family member or a friend. Ok, I know these are the more extreme examples, but my point is, why does my future employer need this information?
It may be to look for red flags, time in jail or problems finding a new job after a termination. However, that could be covered by asking other questions. You could ask if the prospective employee has a criminal record or if they have ever been dismissed from a job. Then the employer can alleviate any concerns they have without violating their employee’s privacy. If they still have concerns based on the employee’s answers, then they may wish to query employment gaps.
Occupation Health
Next, I had to complete an occupational health form. I had to answer the obvious questions about whether I have a disability and whether I need any adjustments to do my job. I’m fine with answering these questions. Further into the questionnaire, they asked me to list any conditions that caused me to be away from work for more than ten days and to list all the medications I currently take.
You may think these questions are fair enough. A new workplace should know if I might need to take time off and if there are any adjustments they need to make, now or in the future. However, my medications might relate to conditions that will not cause me to take time off and do not require any adjustments. So why should I have to reveal them? What if it’s something I would rather not be public knowledge?
Can’t You Just Lie?
That’s what my sister asked, and yes, I probably could. But, unfortunately, when I even consider this avenue, a chorus of what-ifs threaten to overwhelm me. What if I do need adjustments or sick pay? They could find out I lied and refuse to help me. What if it comes out and they terminate my contract? Is it even legal for them to do that? What are the legal ramifications of lying? I’m sure there are answers to these questions, but I’m extremely risk-averse, and it would send my anxiety into overdrive if I lied.
So, as far as I’m concerned, I have no options. I have to sacrifice my privacy to get the job I want in the sector I want. It bothers me; it really does.
Privacy In The Workplace Am I Overreacting?
I’m sure many of you will feel I’m making a fuss over nothing, but I can’t shake the unease I feel. So, I’m going to throw it open to you all, dear readers…how do you feel about privacy in the workplace? How much should we be forced to reveal just to earn a living? I look forward to hearing from you.
