TUC responds to consultation

In its response to the ICO information commissioner’s office consultation on employment practices and data protection regarding information about workers’ health, the TUC says that an online resource with topic-specific guidance on employment practices and data protection could be vital to workers, employers, trade unions and trade union representatives.

But it highlights a number of problems with the draft guidance, which it says is not easy to understand. It points to employer-focussed framing and language; a lack of detail on the ethical principles involved when making complex decisions about workers’ health data; and the omission of information about the benefits of involving trade union representatives and activities, such as meaningful dialogue, consultation and collective bargaining.

It calls on the ICO to change the framing and language to make it equally applicable to workers; talk about unions; allow for better navigation through the document to help those with limited time to read it; make more specific reference to equalities groups who already experience barriers when accessing their rights; and explain the law more fully.