THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THE WORKPLACE IN THE UK1

Özet

Değişen çalışma şartları ve teknolojideki ilerlemeler işyerinde işçilerin her an gözetlenmesi ve özel hayatlarının sınırlanması sonucunu doğurmaktadır. İşverenlerin denetim hakkının işçilerin özel hayatına ilişkin faaliyetleri de kapsar hale gelmesi, işyerinde işçilerin özel hayatlarının gizliliği hakkının çerçevesinin belirlenmesini zorunlu hale getirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Avrupa İnsan Hakları Sözleşmesi'nin 8. maddesi uyarınca işçilerin işyerinde özel hayatlarının gizliliği hakkı, Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi kararları ışığında İngiliz hukuku kapsamında incelenmektedir.

Abstract

Advanced technological developments have resulted in intensive surveillance of employees in the workplace; and employers' managerial discretion has started to cover matters, which affect employees' private lives. Moreover, working conditions have changed and gone beyond their traditional limits, such as long working hours. As a result of these, employees' right to privacy has become a significant concern in the context of employment. Before the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998, privacy was not a liberty that was protected by common law. However, the right to privacy is regulated by many international conventions and especially the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees the right to privacy under the article 8. The importance of the implementation of Convention right into national law is the potential it brings to common law for the recognition of the right to privacy for employees in the workplace. This research aims to examine the application of the article 8 in the employment context in the light of the national legislation in the UK, Strasbourg case law and common law regarding surveillance of employees, employee records, compulsory drug and alcohol tests, dress code and private life.