ONE employee tells them it is an illegal act each time it appears!
I must admit that, if questioned in detail over sickness I would regale the
questioner with such detail that he or she would throw up. But that doe
snot make the practice either fair or decent, let alone the legal
ramifications
-----Original Message-----
From: Alasdair Warwood [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20 September 2001 10:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Medical Data, sub issue
If my memory serves me correctly I recollect the OIC saying, at their
conference on the HR code that medical could be collected by an OHU but
should not be transmitted to HR/line managers. All HR need to know is that
the absence was justified on medical grounds - full stop. Anyone else there
correct me if I am wrong?
As for the chalkboard mentioned in another email - I am astonished that the
staff haven't taken the matter into their own hands - it appears to be an
outrageous breach of the Act.
Alasdair Warwood
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edwina Withe" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: Medical Data, sub issue
> I think it's outrageous!
>
> So is the system we use here which is similar to Doreen's and you get a
back to work interview (even for one day sick) and I think it can be
> particularly embarrassing as a woman to explain to a male middle aged
unmarried manager what is wrong in detail if it is a "female" type complaint
and
> really it's not their business until it starts affecting how much time you
take off. Then this info would be explained to an occupational health
> person. I know that women lie about their illnesses - it is easier to say
migraine than be subject to such interrogation. I feel quite strongly
> about this and think this practice should be changed so that people only
need to disclose this sensitive information where there is a need and right
> to know.
>
> >>> "Trent,Tim" <[log in to unmask]> 09/19/01 12:32pm >>>
> At the local school where my wife works, there is a blackboard (no
> surprises there,though I suspect we must now cal lit a "chalk board") in
the
> staff room.
>
> Every time a staff member is ill, there is a note on the board: "Jean
> Smithers cannot come to work today, she has a migraine"
>
> My take on this is that such a message is against the act. It is the
> display of private information in a public forum in a manner capable of
> identifying the data subject, and containing serious personal data.
>
> The school happens to be a local authority administered school, but this
is
> no different from it being private sector.
>
> Do any of you, especially those with control of schools where this may be
> commonplace, have any comments?
> _____________________________________________________________
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> Chief Privacy Officer EMEA
> Gartner
> EMEA Marketing, Tamesis, The Glanty, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom,
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