What is the employer's obligation regarding worker health information?

The employer's obligation to keep worker health information confidential indefinitely is rooted in laws and regulations governing privacy and data protection in the workplace. Ensuring confidentiality is crucial for maintaining trust between employers and employees. It helps safeguard sensitive personal information about health matters, which may include medical history, disabilities, or health conditions.

Keeping this information confidential means that employers are responsible for implementing measures to protect the privacy of their employees. This can involve limiting access to health information to only those who need it for legitimate work-related purposes, such as occupational health services. By maintaining confidentiality, employers not only comply with legal obligations but also promote a healthy and respectful work environment that values individual privacy.

In contrast to this obligation, sharing health information broadly with all employees, discussing it solely with upper management, or updating it publicly would violate privacy norms and potentially legal standards, compromising the confidentiality that employees expect regarding their personal health information.