Many companies are considering deploying health survey and/or contact-tracing apps as part of protecting the workforce as they bring employees back to work. The apps aim to identify if an employee might be infected or has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. But, before you get started, there are critical privacy issues to consider.
If properly deployed, COVID-19 contact-tracing apps, in combination with other measures, could be an important tool for return-to-work. Yet, they may create and collect sensitive information that will now be in your hands. For a full review of issues to address as you consider using these tools, check out our colleagues’ thorough run-down on the Byte Back blog: U.S. Privacy Law Implications for Employers Considering Employee Contact-Tracing Apps.