Whether we’re talking about privacy in the office or data privacy, many employees are quite frustrated with their companies. And they have all the right reasons to be!
Most offices nowadays feature an open plan with unassigned desks and several glass enclosures for meetings. Wherever you turn, everyone can see everyone, which can be extremely distracting.
In terms of data privacy, not all companies take it as seriously as they should. Both employees and clients give their sensitive data and expect the receiver to have a bulletproof security system to reject any breach attempt.
So, if you want increased engagement, productivity, and trust from your employees, maybe it’s time you address their worries and complaints about workplace privacy. To get you started, we put together a few tips that are quite easy to implement.
3 Ways to Boost Employee Privacy
Your employees want to feel secure and valued. An employee experience strategy built around respecting their need for private (or at least semi-private) spaces and data security brings about a shift in overall mood and productivity.
Employees who trust their company to respect their boundaries have better morale and are more open to communication.
1. Secure Communication Tools
Let’s first address the issue of communications coming from outside the company. These would be remote workers or collaborators who need access to your database to do their job.
These are usually the weakest link in your company’s data privacy system. If they don’t take the necessary security precautions on their end, your data privacy is at risk. However, it’s your job to provide them with access to secure communication tools you trust.
For instance, a solution like Bitdefender VPN is essential for the security of your remote workers. This solution encrypts internet connections and prevents unauthorized access to data shared between staff and the company’s network.
This added layer of security is particularly useful when team members connect from public Wi-Fi or unsecured home networks.
For internal communications, secure messaging platforms like Signal or Slack Enterprise Grid provide encrypted environments for discussions and file sharing. Encryption ensures that messages can only be read by intended recipients, reducing the risk of leaks, even if someone intercepts the transmission.
2. Physical Privacy Measures
Now, let’s discuss office privacy measures. The open space plan is useful in many ways, but it needs some extra physical privacy measures to get even better.
Soundproof meeting pods (great for confidential conversations), acoustic panels (to minimize distraction), dedicated quiet rooms, and spaces where employees can hide from everyone else’s gaze for a few minutes are all important in today’s offices.
Additionally, consider implementing a flexible design that gives employees control over their work environment. Options like movable partitions or quiet zones let individuals choose how much visibility or noise they’re exposed to.
3. Train Your Staff on Privacy Issues
We’re all different – one person may need a quiet corner to do their work, while another thrives in the midst of chaos. This variety is what makes us interesting, but it can also lead us into stepping onto other people’s boundaries.
This is why it’s important to organize educational sessions (or training sessions) and talk about privacy in the context of your office. Tell them about the options available to them when they want privacy, and teach the loud ones to tame it down.
Also, address data privacy. People need to understand why they need to respect so many security measures. These discussions help reduce risks like accidental breaches, phishing attacks, or mishandling of sensitive information.
Wrapping Up
A privacy-focused workplace culture is more than just tools and policies. It’s about embedding respect for confidentiality into daily operations. When employees see privacy as a shared value, trust and collaboration thrive, creating a foundation for lasting organizational success.
