Summary Guide
Employment Privacy Law

by Charles F. Knapp, Rhiannon C. Beckendorf & Sara L. Lewenstein
Past authors and contributors: Charles F. Knapp & Julie M. Giddings

Employee Personal Data Protection Law for Private Employers in Minnesota
Table describing sources of law, covered employers, restrictions, available penalties and relief, and statutes of limitation for privacy rights in the following areas:

• Common Law Right to Privacy
  
• Medical Records
• Medical Inquiries and Testing
• Psychological Testing
• Consumer Reports
• Social Security Numbers
• Personal Information
• Employee Assistance Records
• Protected Class Status
• Polygraph Tests
• Drug Testing
• Genetic Testing

Employer Consideration of Employees’ Activities Outside the Workplace 
Table describing sources of law, covered employers, restrictions, relief available, and statutes of limitation for three types of conduct: lawful consumable products, inquiries regarding drug use, and social media.

Overview of Employee Surveillance/Monitoring for Private Employers in Minnesota 
In this chart, five types of monitoring – audio and telephone communications; e-mail, voicemail and internet usage; visual or video; mail; and physical searches or inspections – are analyzed according to sources of law, restrictions, penalties and remedies, and statutes of limitation.

Summary of Background Check Law for Minnesota Employers
Chart describing the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Minnesota Consumer Protection Act in the following categories:

• Citation
• Scope
• Definition of Consumer Report
• Disclosure and Authorization Requirements
• Requirements Before Taking Adverse Action
• Requirements for Taking Adverse Action
• Governmental Enforcement
• Civil Action Enforcement
• Statute of Limitation for Civil Actions
• Privacy Requirements