Getting staff “buy-in” on privacy compliance

meetings5I chaired a lively Privacy Forum member meeting yesterday, which included a great discussion on how to get staff “buy-in” on privacy compliance.  It’s an important topic because an organization can have comprehensive privacy policies and procedures, but if employees don’t “buy-in” they won’t implement the policies and procedures properly. 

The important thing is to develop a culture of privacy within the workplace.  Fostering a workplace culture where privacy is valued and respected contributes to good employee morale and mutual trust.  It also helps employees to identify privacy issues before they become privacy complaints (which can result in costly grievances, lawsuits or settlements).  After all, it’s employees that are on the front line with customers and how employees respond to privacy related questions or concerns can make a big difference. 

When I conduct privacy training sessions for clients, I always remind employees that while privacy compliance is the law, it’s also important because good privacy practices can improve customer relations, increase efficiencies and mitigate time-consuming and costly privacy complaints.  I also try to make privacy compliance fun!  No, this is not a misprint…I said “fun”.  Privacy Forum members had some great suggestions on how to make privacy compliance fun and, in doing so, help to get staff “buy-in” on privacy compliance. 

Please post a Comment below on ways that you or your organization tries to get staff “buy-in” on privacy.


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