GDPR Compliance and Its Impact on HR Operations

Objectives and target group

The main objective of the course is to help human resource professionals and leaders learn about the subtleties involved with GDPR compliance and how such norms directly impinge or affect their day-to-day HR functions. Participants will leave the course equipped with the necessary competencies to embed privacy principles into their HR functions in a manner that personal data management complies with the guidelines laid down by the GDPR. The course will focus on practical, actionable steps HR teams can take to maintain compliance and avoid penalties while engendering a culture of data security within an organization.

By the end of this course, delegates will have a thorough understanding of data protection legislation, employee privacy, the rights of data subjects, and how best practice for data security can be implemented in an HR context. This course will also provide a general overview of how GDPR affects employee records, recruitment processes, performance evaluations, payroll, and more—so that organizations are able to meet legal demands and sustain the trust of their employees.

Who Should Attend | Target Audience

This course is addressed to HR professionals, Data Protection Officers, Compliance Managers, and any kind of leader involved in data security and HR operations. Also, it will be of high benefit for those performing duties related to employee data management or organizational compliance issues. The following persons and groups will find the given course of particular use:

HR Managers and Professionals

HR professionals charged with managing employee data will understand better the compliance of GDPR and how to implement the concept of privacy into their practice.

Data Protection Officers

Those professionals tasked with making sure their organizations are observing the regulations regarding privacy will acquire necessary insights into applying principles of GDPR in concrete conditions of HR operations.

Compliance Managers

The course will help corporate compliance managers in the in-depth analysis of legal frameworks, risk assessment, and audit procedures for compliance with GDPR regulations in their organizations.

IT and Security Teams

Those in charge of the security of company systems and sensitive employee data will benefit from the course in terms of data security measures and risk assessment.

Legal Consultants and Advisors

Lawyers who consult on data privacy matters for organizations will be better informed about the GDPR and how it impacts the processing and handling of HR-related data.

Business Executives and Leaders

The course will provide critical insights for senior executives responsible for organizational policy and strategy on how attainment of GDPR compliance affects HR operations and how to manage related legal and reputational risks.

Course Content

The course on General Data Protection Regulation Compliance and Its Impact on HR Operations gives an overview of the GDPR regulations and their specific impact on HR functions. The next sections cover critical aspects of compliance, data management, and employee privacy.

Understanding the GDPR and Its Core Principles

The course commences with the elaboration of the General Data Protection Regulation, its introduction, purpose, and the principles that form its backbone. Participants will be taken through key components of GDPR compliance, including data processing, data minimization, and accountability. They will study the lawful basis for the processing of personal data on consent management, contract performance, and legitimate interest, and then apply these principles to human resources operations.

Understanding the importance of data protection and how the GDPR fits within the wider framework of global privacy laws will give the participants an increased insight into the regulatory environment that they work within.

Employee Rights under the GDPR

One of the most sensitive aspects of the GDPR compliance issue is the protection of employee rights. This section covers the rights relevant to employee data. Inter alia, participants will be introduced to the data subject rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, and data portability.

Special attention is given to how HR departments will have to facilitate employees in the exercise of these rights, from handling data access requests to ensuring that employees can request the deletion of their personal data. In this regard, HR professionals should learn how to balance compliance with employee privacy expectations.

Data Collection and Processing in HR

This topic addresses how organizations have to manage personal data during the recruitment process, onboarding, performance evaluation, and employee offboarding. The participants will be taken through processes of data collection and processing, ensuring that personal data is collected in a lawful manner and used for legitimate purposes of HR.

It will cover topics such as employee records, sensitive data, and how to ensure that data collection is performed in compliance with the standards of GDPR. Additionally, the course will cover how HR teams can maintain compliance with employee consent and transparency requirements in the processing of data.

Data Protection in Recruitment and Hiring

One of the most critical areas in which GDPR significantly impacts HR operations is in recruitment. This section asks participants how to make the recruitment process GDPR-compliant, ranging from application forms to interview notes to candidate screening, by knowing how to deal with prospective candidates’ data in a responsible and lawful manner.

Special attention will be given to the privacy policy, data retention, and consent during the process of recruitment, making sure that all personal data is stored and processed correctly.

Managing Sensitive Data in HR

Special categories of data, including health information, racial and ethnic data, and all other personal identifiers—especially need protection under the GDPR. This section shall impart knowledge on handling employee sensitive data in line with the standards set by the GDPR, covering aspects related to data security, minimization of data, and maintaining confidentiality.

Participants will also learn about the necessity of performing Data Protection Impact Assessments, especially in cases where sensitive data is involved, and how such assessments must be performed to meet the guidelines laid out by the GDPR.

Data Breach and Security Measures

Protection against data breaches of personal data is an important core of any GDPR compliance. This segment describes the procedures that the HR departments should imply in case of detection, response, and notification in case of a data breach. During this session, participants will learn about the procedure to be followed for notification in case of breaches, position of DPO, due importance to be given for routine security audits for preventing the breach.

This section will also touch on how to instill a culture of data security within HR teams and ensure that employees understand their areas of responsibility in looking after personal data.

Compliance with GDPR for Third-Party Vendors

Most organizations have HR departments reliant on third-party vendors for services related to payroll, benefits management, and recruitment. This section shall deal with how to ensure that third-party vendors comply with GDPR when handling employee data.

Participants will learn how to draft a data processing agreement and perform a data audit in order to ensure third-party partners meet the same stringent data protection standards as the organization itself.

Sustaining Compliance and Improvement

The last part of the course covers long-term maintenance of GDPR compliance by reviewing data protection policies on a regular basis, giving continuous training in GDPR, and establishing accountability within HR departments by instituting an accountability framework. Learners will be guided through monitoring compliance metrics, carrying out internal audits, and implementing continuous improvement strategies that help ensure GDPR compliance is to the fore in HR operations.