Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators GACE Practice Test

In order to facilitate communication between employees within a company, the company is considering providing all employees with unlimited access to a file that contains employee names, addresses, birthdates, social security numbers, work phone numbers, and work email addresses. What confidentiality issues would this new policy raise?

1. Many employees may object to their social security numbers and birthdays being shared with others; the company should withhold both of these

2. Many employees may object to their social security numbers and birthdays being shared with publish the birthdays anyway, but withhold the social security numbers

3. None, the value of improved communication between employees would outweigh any confidentiality issues

4. Releasing of any of this information is a violation of employees' privacy

The correct answer is: Many employees may object to their social security numbers and birthdays being shared with others; the company should withhold both of these

Providing unlimited access to a file containing sensitive employee information raises significant confidentiality concerns. The primary issue is that many employees would likely feel uncomfortable or even threatened by the idea of their personal information, such as social security numbers and birthdates, being freely accessible to their colleagues. Social security numbers are particularly sensitive, as they can be used for identity theft if they fall into the wrong hands. Birthdates are also sensitive when it comes to personal privacy, and many individuals prefer to keep this information private for various reasons. By withholding both social security numbers and birthdays, the company demonstrates a commitment to protecting employee privacy, which is essential for fostering a trusting workplace environment. Employees must feel confident that their personal information will be treated with respect and confidentiality. This approach mitigates potential risks associated with information leaks and ensures compliance with privacy laws and regulations that may apply. Thus, the decision to limit access to this sensitive information aligns with ethical standards and legal requirements regarding employee privacy.