My Employee Has COVID-19. What Are My Information Privacy Obligations?

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Table of Contents

• What Does Federal Privacy Law Cover?
• Other Employment Obligations
• Key Takeaways 

As an employer, it is important that you understand and consider how your privacy obligations apply in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In particular, if one your employee contracts COVID-19 and you want to inform staff, third parties and visitors to your work premises. 

You need to consider such things as:

• whether Australian privacy laws apply to your business; and if so
• how you need to comply with these laws in order to disclose the information; and
• whether your business has any other obligations.

This article will provide insight into your obligations under federal privacy law. Other state and territory laws that may also apply to your business.

What Does Federal Privacy Law Cover?

Federal privacy law, known as the Privacy Act, was introduced to promote and protect the privacy of individuals such as your employees and your customers. It also regulates how organisations handle personal information. It can apply to your business if you are using or disclosing certain information types. 

Federal privacy law applies to all organisations and agencies that have a turnover of over $3 million per financial year. However, even if your turnover is $3 million or less, the privacy law may still apply.

Employee Exemptions Under Privacy Law

There are some exemptions that apply, such as the employee records exemption for private organisations. This would mean that if the exemption applies to your business, you would not need to comply with disclosure obligations under the Privacy Act. This exemption only applies if you are disclosing information that is directly related to:

• a current or former employment relationship between the employer and the employee (for example, a current employee or one that left the business last week); and
• an employee record held by the organisation and relating to the employee (for instance, a medical certificate that the employee had diabetes).

If your worker is a volunteer or contractor then this employee exemption would not apply.

If the disclosure is:

• not directly related to your employment relationship with a current or former employee and an employee record you hold; and 
• the Privacy Act applies to your business,

then you will be required to only disclose that personal information as permitted by the Privacy Act. 

For example, if you do not have a record of the employee testing positive for COVID-19, but you have heard that it is the case, the employee records exemption is unlikely to apply and you will be required to comply with your disclosure obligations under the Privacy Act. 

Obtaining Consent

If you want to protect the health and safety of your workforce by disclosing to them that an employee has contracted COVID-19, you would need to obtain the employee’s consent first.

You cannot disclose information without the employee’s permission unless an employee exemption applies. An employee exemption does not apply if:

• the record does not apply to your employee (for example, it relates to a contractor or volunteer); or
• if they are a volunteer or contractor; and 
• if your business is covered by federal privacy law and you store personal information about an employee that was collected for a particular purpose, 

For example, if you have a record of an employee who has epilepsy for the purpose of knowing they have this disorder, then this is the primary reason you have collected this information.  Disclosing this information for any other purpose would be considered a ‘secondary purpose’ and requires the employee to consent to the information being disclosed. Another exception, other than consent, may apply, however, consent is often best practice. 

Other Employment Obligations

As an employer, you should also keep in mind your workplace health and safety obligations. 

Employers have a duty of care for the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety. 

To meet your duties, you must identify risks at the workplace, and where possible eliminate or minimise those risks. If one of your employees has contracted COVID-19 you need to consider what can be done to control the risk of other employees being exposed to the virus.

Key Takeaways 

As an employer, your business needs to comply with information privacy obligations when disclosing that an employee has contracted COVID-19. It is essential you obtain advice to make sure you are following the correct process to disclose the information. There are also other employment obligations you need to be aware of. If you need help in understanding your risks and protecting your business, our employment lawyers can help. Fill out the form on this page or call us on 1300 544 755.