Why You Should Think About Sharing Employee Information With Third Parties
Sharing Employee Information With Third Parties
Sharing employee information with third parties is not necessarily a bad idea. Some businesses see the sharing as a way to get new clients or to expand what they have, or both. Others, though, see it more as an invasion of privacy and an effort to gain profits through the back door. It’s a subjective call. It all depends on the type of information that is being shared.
When an organization allows employees to share certain personal information with the outside world, it may be in the best interests of those employees. They will know how much their boss will be willing to pay them based on the potential income they can bring into the business. They can also decide whether or not they want to work for the competition. In other words, they will have more say over the direction their career takes.
When Sharing Employee Information With Third Parties, on the other hand, it may be an attempt to win their trust. The customer may be receiving information from a competitor that is making it difficult for them to make a decision. By sharing this information, the employee is helping the customer make a better choice. It is a subtle way of promoting their own products or services. Sometimes the sharing is done without the employee’s knowledge.
One common example is that when a website is being set up or updated, some employees may post information on blogs. Their coworkers may use those same blogs to mention product discounts or special offers. When those employees go to set the blog up or update it, they are inadvertently sharing information with the outside world. This is considered a violation of SEO or search engine optimization standards.
Why You Should Think About Sharing Employee Information With Third Parties
Employees should always have some expectation of privacy when it comes to sharing information with others. If they don’t feel comfortable with the information being shared, it shouldn’t be shared. There should be some type of notification provided to employees about what is being shared and how it will be used. That way, employees know they can be trusted not to use that information against the business.
Some businesses are leery of SEO and the idea of sharing information that may be found on the Internet. However, if employees have to sign non-disclosure agreements, it may be in their best interest to know what is going on. They may need to change their mindset about what is considered fair sharing. They may want to understand how third-party advertising could affect their performance or reputation. They may want to ensure their personal information is secure even while the information is being shared outside of the company.
Sharing employee information with others does not mean employees need to give everyone else access to the employee’s entire life history. However, employees who travel and spend time away from the office may need to provide their social security number, income information, or current place of employment on websites. This information can be used for fraudulent purposes or sold to others. The social security number should always be protected, but it can be easier to do when employees have to provide a little information so others can contact them.
Some companies are leery of what legal liability could come about if employee information ends up in the wrong hands. However, the law does not require them to disclose this information. It only requires them to maintain secrecy when it is in their best interest. For example, a company has to honor their own privacy policies. It would be unethical to share employee information with a competitor.