Before describing the implications of the Privacy Act of 1974, it is essential to outline the characteristics of HRIS. It is essential to note that the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is an approach used to collect information from employees for various purposes within the organization (Valcik et al., 2021). For example, the significance of this system can be assessed in its helpfulness for HR managers. The collected data allows them to understand not only job-related issues but also to determine the personal characteristics of the workers. Therefore, many concerns regarding the correct application of this system in the working environment are relevant and should be thoroughly explored.
Due to the high risks of data leaks and numerous issues related to personal information security, a significant number of laws and policies have been created to regulate this area. The Privacy Act of 1974 is a vital example of these documents. Among the essential aspects of the Privacy Act of 1974, it is crucial to determine what constitutes private information and how it can be used. For example, the Act states that points such as medical history, education, financial transactions, employment, and criminal history, as well as other data, are considered private information of the person (United States Department of Justice, 2012). Consequently, when applying the Privacy Act of 1974, it is essential to clearly understand the type of information that will be collected from workers.
In addition, this act is vital for controlling the use of HRIS and its implications, particularly in relation to the protection of personal rights and the processing of personal data, in the United States. Department of Justice (2012) states, “Privacy Act rights are personal to the individual who is the subject of the record and cannot be asserted derivatively by others” (p. 16). Therefore, while considering exploiting HRIS, the Privacy Act of 1974 will be important in understanding types of personal information and concerning the regulation of its maintenance and recording.
References
United States. Department of Justice. Privacy and Civil Liberties Office. (2012). Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974. Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, U.S. Department of Justice.
Valcik, N. A., Sabharwal, M., & Benavides, T. J. (2021). Human resources information systems: A guide for public administrators. Springer International Publishing.