Generational differences in retail workplace safety
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For HR and legal professionals, ensuring data privacy isn’t just a task on a checklist; it’s fundamental to safeguarding employee and customer trust and protecting organizations from legal and financial risks.
In today’s digital age, data is everything. Personal information, financial records, and countless other sensitive details are stored and shared rapidly across networks. But with this convenience comes a critical responsibility: protecting this data. For HR and legal professionals, ensuring data privacy isn’t just a task on a checklist; it’s fundamental to safeguarding employee and customer trust and protecting organizations from legal and financial risks.
Data privacy refers to the practices and policies designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, misuse or exposure. It empowers individuals by giving them control over their personal information.
According to Pew Research, 79% of Americans are concerned about how companies use their data, with only 21% of survey respondents confident that those who have access to their personal information will do what is right.
“Data privacy and data security, while often used interchangeably, are distinct yet interconnected concepts,” says John Brushwood, Compliance Counsel at Traliant. “Data privacy focuses on the rights of individuals over their personal information—how it’s collected, stored, and shared—while data security addresses the mechanisms in place to protect that information from breaches and unauthorized access. Both are crucial, but you can’t ensure privacy without strong security measures.
Brushwood points to surveys showing consumers would stop engaging with a brand after a data breach to highlight how privacy and security are not just legal obligations but critical components of maintaining trust and business continuity.
Data privacy is important because protecting sensitive information ensures the integrity of your business and the privacy of those you serve.
User data includes any information linked to an individual, such as names, contact details or social security numbers. Whether in healthcare, retail, or technology, user data is central to operations but vulnerable to breaches or misuse without proper safeguards. This is where data privacy regulations play a crucial role.
HR and legal teams are at the forefront of ensuring data privacy within organizations. Here’s how they can lead the way:
For HR and legal professionals, protecting the personal information of employees, clients and customers is a critical responsibility. By addressing why is data privacy important within your organization, you’re helping safeguard identities, build trust and ensure compliance with legal standards. In a world where data is one of our most valuable assets, protecting it should be a top priority for every organization.
Whether it’s ensuring compliance with HIPAA in healthcare, safeguarding employee and consumer data under GDPR and CCPA, or protecting your company’s intellectual property, we offer training on data privacy and best practices.