Personal identifiable information is defined as the personal information of an individual that can be used to identify them. According to the Department of Labor, PII can be in the form of either direct or indirect information. Examples of direct forms of PII include the following:
Examples of indirect forms of PII are as follows:
If there is any piece of information that may be used to contact someone either in person or over the internet, then said piece of information is thereby considered to be personally identifiable. PII comes in various formats, including on paper, in electronic form and via other types of media. In the words of the DOL, "The loss of PII can result in substantial harm to individuals, including identity theft or other fraudulent use of the information." Employer responsibility Employers typically have access to both direct and indirect forms of PII in regard to their employees. These details include information such as the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and birth dates of their employees. But when it comes to legalities, are employers required by law to protect the PII of those whom they employ? According to workforce.com, U.S. courts have ruled in opposing ways when it comes to answering the legal aspect of this issue. However, despite the contradictory rulings across the board, most courts have concluded that it is possible for employers to be held responsible for situations in which they fail to protect the PII of their employees. As an employer, even if you are not legally required to protect your employees' PII, it is still incredibly wise to do so. It is smart from not only a business perspective but also from the viewpoint of looking out for other people. Business owners and employers of all kinds should make it a point to follow the steps involved in keeping the PII of your employees confidential, safe and secure. Recommendations made by the Society for Human Resource Management According to SHRM, the following should be incorporated within an official PII policy:
In general, it is best to adhere to as many preventive measures as possible when handling the PII of your employees. As always, work with a trusted legal team to ensure that your company's PII policy covers all the bases and prioritizes the protection of your employees' private information. Comments are closed.
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