Data Protection Act

[ElephantsEye]

Hope there's someone out there who is familiar with DPA and HR matters.

I'm sure I heard years ago that holiday entitlement is part of your private data (because it relates to your contract of employment). Consequently, nobody can force you to put your holiday dates up on a public chart for all staff to see (and some visitors). You can ask people to do it but they don't have to comply.

Can anyone tell me if that's the case?

And, surely, sickness absence is even more private? For example, I assume it's legitimate to put up a summary on view, showing that last month 3 people were ill for 2 days each, that one person was ill for 5 days and that someone else was off ill for 15 days, but that no actual names should be on the charts. Am I right or wrong?

It would be great if you can point me to something definitive but simple.

[mikkii]

I know that we are not supposed to record sick time on our staff planning chart, as anyone can view it. I would be concerned about the detail you are suggesting as, unless it is a very large company it would be easy to work out what time off related to who.

We do record holiday bookings on the planner, often only as provisional.

[sisterofmercy]

I've not seen anything on this issue exactly - it's a good question about charts up on walls, especially if people who don't work with you can see it. You don't want people breaking in your house when you are away, for example.

This may be a starting point - www.gov.uk/data-protection/the-data-protection-act

[BerylStreep]

Well a data controller needs to process their employee's private data lawfully and fairly.

Have you raised this with your employer?

[ElephantsEye]

I was fairly sure this isn't right, and people I've spoken to IRL generally agree, but so far nobody's produced something clear in writing. I just want to be very sure of my ground before I bring it up with senior management, because it won't go down well!

Thanks for the link, sisterofmercy; I'd already scanned the booklet.