Privacy and Data Protection

Duncan Lewis Employment Law Solicitors – Privacy and Data Protection

Employees and job applicants are protected under The Data Protection Act 1998 from having their personal information used in a way that might compromise their right to privacy.

Employers and recruiters access and hold a wide range of personal information relating to employees and job applicants – and under the Data Protection Act, they have a legal duty to handle the information fairly, as well as protecting an employee’s or jobseeker’s rights under the Act.

The sort of information which is protected includes an employee’s or job applicant’s:

• Address
• Bank details
• Date of birth and age
• Ethnic group
• Health
• Marital status
• Sex and sexual orientation.

In some jobs, an applicant might have to disclose information relating to criminal convictions or civil matters such as parking fines. This information is also subject to data protection.

Employees have a legal right to ask an employer about information they have on record and how long this will be kept for.

Companies or employers who fail to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act can be prosecuted in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court for misuse of data, including data stored electronically or as hard copies. Any hard copies of sensitive material such as health records must be disposed of according to data protection laws.

Employees or job applicants who are aware their privacy has been compromised by a data protection breach – or those who suspect it might have been – should take expert legal advice from an employment law specialist such as Duncan Lewis.

Breaches of data protection can lead to criminal activity such as identity theft or financial fraud, as well as causing an individual immense distress and possibly harming their employment prospects, or their personal security if addresses and bank details are made public.

Duncan Lewis employment law solicitors can advise at any stage of a case involving privacy issues at work or breaches of data protection in the workplace – including advice on making a claim against an employer who has failed in its duty to protect an employee’s or job applicant’s details under the Data Protection Act.

Duncan Lewis Employment Law Solicitors – How we can help you

Duncan Lewis employment lawyers act on behalf of claimants and respondents in all Employment Tribunal related matters.

The Duncan Lewis employment team can represent all types of employers, both large and small – as well as advising individual employees and collective employees on matters relating to the Employment Rights Act 1996 and privacy and data protection issues under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Duncan Lewis Employment Law Solicitors – Fees

Duncan Lewis employment law solicitors operate a transparent fee scale – and can offer a range of competitively priced funding options for claimants and respondents:

• No-win-no-fee
• Damage based fee
• Contingency fee
• Fixed fees (for specific tasks)
• Insurance funded cases.

Duncan Lewis believes clients should always know what they will be paying – and will advise on the best funding option at the initial client meeting.

Duncan Lewis Employment Law Solicitors – When to contact us

If you have a problem with employment and privacy or data protection issues, it is important to take legal advice and find out what your rights are as soon as possible.

Duncan Lewis can offer clear legal advice on employment law at any stage of an employment matter, including advising on taking a claim for a breach of privacy or data protection to an Employment Tribunal.

Duncan Lewis also has a successful track record in advising companies and employers on employment matters and disputes involving privacy and data protection of employees or job applicants.

The sooner you call us, the sooner we can help with an employment claim.

Duncan Lewis Employment Law Solicitors – How to contact us

Duncan Lewis has offices nationwide and in most major cities, with more than 20 offices across London and the southeast.

For expert legal advice on employment law and privacy or data protection issues, call Duncan Lewis employment solicitors on 020 7923 4020.