Workplace data breach and the impact on employees

In a workplace data breach, the exposure of employee information can be devastating for the reputation of the company and its overall operations.

But the personal impact on staff members can be the most harmful effect, and this is the element that we focus on.

If you have been the victim of a data breach in your workplace, Your Lawyers is here to support you in the face of the errors or neglect of your employer. In the event that your information has been processed incorrectly or insufficiently protected, you could be eligible to claim compensation for any harm caused to you. 

The impact of a workplace data breach

Employers often have access to a vast array of employee data because of the requirements of employment contracts and workplace records. For example, in addition to email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses, employers may also store information such as National Insurance numbers and bank account details.

This means that, when a breach does occur, the repercussions for the victims can be severe. This is why cyberattacks are known to target this kind of information.

In a workplace data breach, details about staff members’ absences and private medical histories could also be exposed. This could expose information about sensitive surgeries, mental health problems, and accidents. Whether the breach is an internal one to other employees, or one where information is leaked to the public, the impact can be devastating.

The possibility of a large-scale workplace data breach was also recently highlighted by researchers investigating security systems at the UN, who reportedly accessed 100,000 employee records within 24 hours. Continuing to work in an organisation that has been responsible for failing to protect your personal data can also be stressful and frustrating, particularly if no action is taken to prevent something like it from happening again.

Bringing a claim against your employers

If employers are lax or take shortcuts when it comes to their data protection policies and procedures, the repercussions can often fall heavily on them. If you have been the victim of a workplace data breach, you may be eligible to claim compensation for any poor data protection issues in your place of work.

In accordance with the GDPR, claimants can be eligible to claim compensation for their involvement in a breach. The distress that has been suffered, often referred to as General Damages, is a claimable element. Further, financial losses or expenses caused, covered in Special Damages, may also be recoverable.

In a workplace data breach, both types may need to be claimed for; the sensitivity of the exposed data may cause significant distress, and employees may suffer losses by taking necessary time off from work, so earnings could be lost. In fact, the exposure of certain types of data may harm an affected employee’s long-term job prospects as well.

Claiming with Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers

With so many factors at stake, the harm that can be caused from a workplace data breach must not be underestimated.

You may have every right to claim compensation if you are an affected employee, and at Your Lawyers – t/a The Data Leak Lawyers – we have the specialist expertise to bring your claim to fruition.

We are currently working on high-profile data breach actions against the likes of British Airways and Virgin Media, among many other data breach cases, and have been doing so for the last seven years.

We are pleased to be able to offer No Win, No Fee representation to eligible clients. Please do not hesitate to contact us for free, no-obligation advice on your potential claim.

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