How does the Act affect recruitment and selection?
• If you collect or use information about people as part of a recruitment or selection exercise, the Data Protection Act will apply. For example, you might obtain information about people by asking them to complete an application form or to e-mail their CV to you. • The Act does not prevent you recruiting staff effectively. What it does is help strike a balance between an employer’s need for information and an applicant’s right to respect for their private life. • The Act requires openness. Applicants should be aware what information about them is being collected and what it will be used for. Gathering information about an applicant covertly is unlikely to be justified.
