Confidentiality & Privacy

The Office of Human Resources is committed to preserving the confidentiality and privacy of information entrusted to our care. This includes written documents, electronic data stored in our HR systems and verbal conversations held between HR staff members and our faculty, staff, retirees and applicants.

We adhere to Princeton’s policies and guidelines and state and federal regulations regarding confidentiality and privacy, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for medical information; Information Security Policy for all data; Rights, Rules, Responsibilities; Nondiscrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy and Grievance Procedures; and others that may require disclosure of information under certain specific circumstances.

We believe that expectations regarding the confidentiality of conversations between HR staff members and employees should be discussed and clarified up front. All parties must realize that if anything is mentioned that would put the University or employees at risk or violates University policies or law, appropriate steps will need to be taken that might include divulging what was discussed between HR staff and employees. In such situation, this will be done with great care and respect for the individual and addressed on a case–by–case basis.