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Introduction to the Data Protection Act

By: Matthew Strawbridge - Updated: 17 Oct 2019 | comments*Discuss
 
Data Protection Act Personal Information

The Data Protection Act 1998 is a piece of legislation designed to safeguard details relating to living people.

It controls what organisations are allowed to find out about you, limits how they store and process this knowledge, and gives you the right to inspect your details and to correct them if they are wrong.

Data Protection Principles

The Data Protection Act sets out eight principles that form its basis. In basic terms, these principles are as follows, each relating to personal data:

  • It shall be processed in a fair way.
  • The purpose for which it was obtained shall be specified, and it shall not be processed for some other purpose.
  • It shall be adequate and relevant, and not excessive for its purpose.
  • It shall be accurate and kept up to date.
  • It shall not be kept for longer than is necessary.
  • Subjects have the right to access and correct what is held about them.
  • Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be put in place to protect it.
  • It shall not be transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area unless that country has adequate laws of its own.

What Is Personal Data?

The protection principles apply to personal data. So, what is it?

In short, it is anything that can be used to identify a living person. This includes both information directly stored with an individual’s credentials, and more loosely bound records that could be matched up with an individual by subsequent processing.

Such personal data includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • names
  • addresses
  • dates of birth
  • telephone numbers
  • email addresses
  • religion
  • race
  • political allegiance
  • medical history

Except for some specific exceptions, the Act relates to records held on computers.

Your Rights

Under this legislation, you have the following rights:

  • to gain access to computerised records about you and to some manual records
  • to correct, block, remove or destroy inaccurate records
  • to ask a data controller not to process information if that processing could cause you “substantial unwarranted damage or distress” (although they are not always bound to comply with such requests)
  • to request that your details not be used for unsolicited direct marketing
  • to object to automatic decisions made without human involvement and based on your data
  • to ask the Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate a perceived breach, and the right to claim compensation for damage, and possibly distress, if one is found to have taken place

Applications of the Act in your Workplace

There are two main reasons why you should make sure you understand the basics of this law. First, it applies directly to you. Your employer holds information about you, and it is in your own interests to ensure that they are complying with this legislation. This will ensure that the data they hold on you is not excessive, but is correct and is kept confidential. A second consideration is that if you are handling other people’s records you have a responsibility to treat their privacy with respect, and to comply with this law. By doing this, you keep your company’s customers happy and protect yourself and your employer from the threat of legal action.

*The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) superseded the UK Data Protection Act 1998 on May 25, 2018. The new policy expands the rights of individuals to control how their personal data is collected and processed. It places a range of new obligations on organisations to be more accountable for data protection.

Organisations are obliged to have technical and procedural measures in place to safeguard the personal information they hold.

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[Add a Comment]
At my work place our absence/holiday request forms are stored in a clear polypocket stuck on the wall by the manager's desk. Our overtime record sheets are stored in the same way. Is this acceptable HR?
MA - 17-Oct-19 @ 9:57 PM
At my workplace we have a folder with names and phone numbers in which is only meant to be used to contact people while we are at work for work purposes and it says do not copy or photo copy it is part of data protection, but a staff member took a photo of this and shared it on a group chat with other work colleges and she only got a warning for this, surly she should have got the sack and could I take this further as I didn’t want my phone number shared in this way.
Elaine1 - 3-Sep-19 @ 11:18 AM
I pressed 'i do not consent' to my exit interview being shared, but HR have shared it with management in my office who are now giving me the cold shoulder - is this legal?
EO - 16-Jul-19 @ 5:14 PM
I asked last week if my boss could help me with a personal loan or a loan from the company of £7000, this was for me and my partner to help us get on the property ladder.This discussion was in private and confidential. Today he was angry with other employees and blurted out in front of other employees that if I or other employees keep wasting money running vehicles around empty there was no way he could give me the £7000 I asked to borrow.Even tho in private last week he said there was nothing he could do to help. It was private information that my co-works now know about which shouldn’t have happened.Where do I stand?
Poohbear - 25-Jun-19 @ 9:24 AM
My ex employer has posted my P45 to another ex employee she didn’t work at the same home as me but had contacted me to say she has half my p45 containing all my personal details
N/A - 3-Jun-19 @ 11:36 AM
Is it right for a senior or leader to give you're number to a member of staff without your permission
alidowell - 24-May-19 @ 8:45 PM
The account for employees' wages is set up as a customer account on the computer and anyone processing invoices has access to everyone's wage history/payments. Is this legal, acceptable, or an infringement on employee privacy rights?
Jeff J - 29-Mar-19 @ 6:00 PM
My current employer has issued my national insurance number on another employees payslip for 3 continuous months, and a letter was sent to the same employee from the hmrc in my name notifying them of future tax channges for the coming year, the same employee whilst trying to register for a company benefit couldn't register his employee account as it was stating they had the incorrect d.o.b, low and behold it was my d.o.b they needed to enter to gain access. These 3 soerate incidents happened over a 5 month period where neither incident was brought to my attention by my employer, I've had no apology or advice on how this happened and what's being done to rectify this breach. I've made a complaint to my hr team over a week ago and I personally still haven't had any correspondence from them other than an automated email saying they'll be in touch within 72 hours, they've contacted my operations manager but not myself. I'm very annoyed that this has happened and they've not apologised or seemingly fulfilled they're duty to notify me, what should I do? And are these grounds to make a compensation claim against my employer for not safeguarding my personal data and causing undue stress?
Nj - 19-Feb-19 @ 10:33 PM
I have just moved to a new property within the space of a week my ex employer has sent me a letter looking for payment from an overpaymebt, but I can't understand how they got my address it make another sense, I am not on the electoral roll at my address as I have just moved in. One of my ex employees used to stay in this property what are my rights ?
Cal - 11-Jan-19 @ 1:15 PM
My employer has released my personal data in a mass email. To say that I'm upset is an understatement. What are my legal rights ? do I have any ? am I entitled to compensation ? You advice would be much appreciated.
Hubert - 25-Sep-18 @ 11:54 AM
@Teamtrave - it's unlikely anything will happen or that the other person is going to sell your number. But it is something you should speak to your company about.
DNN - 3-Sep-18 @ 9:48 AM
My employer/pensions dept has sent me another persons pension statement but has also sent that person mines - We have the same name. However this means my national insurance number, date of birth, pension contributions and salary are on the document which really worries me.
Teamtrave - 1-Sep-18 @ 10:05 PM
@HannaaLucie - if there was a work/police incident then your employer has every right to contact you or pass your number to the police.
KateV - 17-Aug-18 @ 9:45 AM
I have recently left a job, I have been left about 6 weeks. Today my previous employer rang the police regarding an incident with my partner who also worked there and gave the police my phone number. Is this a breach of privacy as I have been left 6 weeks and they have no reason to have my records still or pass them on to the police.
HannaaLucie - 3-Aug-18 @ 7:05 PM
I have had issues with work (a manager specifically, who I raised a greivance on, and have just come through that procedure) that have had a knock on effect to my health, in turn, affecting my work... Due to the health issues, I was asked to attend a session with an occupational Dr, which I did. When he sent me his report on me to look over & confirm I was happy for him to send it on. I specifically gave permission for him to send it to my HR Rep. I then also sent it to the HR Rep labelled Private & Confidential. I have not given any further permissions for this document to be shared, yet the manager who I raised the grievance on, has infirmed me that he has read this report. Is this not a GDPR breach?
MeOldChina - 26-Jul-18 @ 3:44 AM
Kat - Your Question:
My employer has my full name printed on till receipts given out to the pubic. I’ve had men contact me through personal social media because of this. Is this a breach of my person data?
Our Response:
If you do not wish your full name to be given out, then you should request that your employer no longer does this. If your employer does not take your query on board, please see link here.
EmployeePrivacyRights - 23-Jul-18 @ 3:39 PM
My employer has my full name printed on till receipts given out to the pubic. I’ve had men contact me through personal social media because of this. Is this a breach of my person data?
Kat - 21-Jul-18 @ 2:31 PM
An old employer ( over 4 years ago) gave a complete stranger my place of work resulting in a phone call to my employer regarding something unrelated to my job - is that a breach of gdpr?
Speeds - 4-Jul-18 @ 8:46 PM
@Enam - if you think security is not tight enough I'd complain or write to them directly. It's usually the other way around these days - we have so many passwords or security questions we can't remember them.
HaB - 18-Jun-18 @ 10:37 AM
Three have a live chat where they only ask for name, post code and date of birth. Any close friends or family members easily have access to these details which means they can easily access my account without my consent. By law, are the questions they ask sufficient or do they need to tighten up the security with more questions?
Enam - 16-Jun-18 @ 8:11 PM
Hi there. I left my employer 2 weeks ago and they have sent out various correspondence to me regarding final salary etc I have been contacted by another ex employee who has had a letter addressed to me, posted to him.Luckily he has my mobile number to tell me. This has caused me distress since he called. I don't want others knowing my reasons for leaving. Is this a gdpr breach? What should I do. Thanks
Murkym - 15-Jun-18 @ 1:26 PM
My ex employer has given out my home address to a solicitors re: contacting me about an employment tribunal...I made a witness statement last year when I still worked for the company, but left at the start of the year. Should they have done this without my consent?
Unsureaboutdataprote - 24-May-18 @ 8:02 PM
@Danc - you would have to write to them. How come you have access to your old online portal anyway?
Bri - 22-May-18 @ 12:42 PM
My ex employer(a company which has over 1000 stores) are logging onto my old online portal at work which has all my information on there from all my old pay slips to bank account numbers, sort codes,mobile number,address etc. Is this legal?
Danc - 21-May-18 @ 9:53 PM
My company is repeatedly giving out my mobile number to clients.The phone is personal, not work, bought out-right by me and on payg. Is what they are doing legal?
Meemme - 7-May-18 @ 12:20 PM
Returned to work after long term sick leave (6 months). Told I couldn't return by employer when I arrived back. I wouldn't leave without written evidence as to why he wasn't allowing me back. He called police to have me removed for trespassing. Employer disclosed all my medical conditions and medical history with police without consent from me. No crime as it was a civil matter, they just come along to ask me to leave. Should he have disclosed all information as no crime committed.
K - 27-Apr-18 @ 1:24 PM
@Scous- if your illness is affecting your ability to work, then as a company it has to be discussed.
Darcey - 26-Apr-18 @ 3:59 PM
I have MS and asked my line manager for some adjustments. He took my request to a resource meeting were he discussed my condition with other employees. He told me he was taking my request to a meeting but didn’t get consent off me to discuss my condition... has he breached data protection? Thanks
Scous - 25-Apr-18 @ 11:21 PM
I purchased tickets online to a large concert event.The event date changed and I elected to request a full refund.I am being asked to provide my Date of Birth along with other details.Is this legal?
Ferdy - 24-Apr-18 @ 5:47 PM
I recently received a complaint at work (which was not upheld) however a senior manager whilst speaking to another member of staff told them of this complaint and mentioned my name when giving details of this. Is this a clear breach of data protection? Thanks
Doc7 - 20-Mar-18 @ 8:32 PM
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