Privacy Policy Statement
This document sets out the policy of United Utilities in Australia in relation to the handling of personal and sensitive information.
1. Statement of Commitment
United Utilities respects the privacy rights of all individuals in the workplace. Furthermore, United Utilities is committed to ensuring that all Directors and others involved in the management of the Company comply at all times with their obligations under the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.
2. National Privacy Principles
As United Utilities does not have an approved Privacy Code, the Company is bound by the National Privacy Principles (the “Principles”). The principles will be binding on most private sector employers from 21 December 2001.
3. Information Held
United Utilities currently holds some information in relation to its employees, contractors and other workplace participants. This information includes, but is not limited to:
- Tax File Numbers;
- Information relating to the personal background of these workplace participants (such as their home address, sex, date of birth, nationality, languages spoken, their employment history, their educational qualifications, any illnesses and details of contact people in the event of any emergency); and
- Information documenting the work history of these workplace participants (such as their letter of appointment and bank account details as well as records of any salary adjustment, written warnings, salary sacrifice documents and sick leave taken).
There are a variety of reasons why United Utilities is required to hold this information. Some of these reasons include:
- Ensuring that both United Utilities and any workplace participants are meeting their obligations under relevant legislation as well as their contract of employment;
- Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all workplace participants at times when they are performing work for United Utilities; and
- Allowing appropriate insurance coverage for these workplace participants.
While United Utilities does contract out some of its services, any of the above information will not be disclosed to any contractors without the prior consent being obtained from any affected individual. However, as United Utilities is a part of the United Utilities group, this information is accessible to certain authorised officers of other companies within the United Utilities group, including related companies to United Utilities Australia Pty Limited.
There may be certain circumstances where United Utilities is contacted in relation to some or all of the above personal information, for example, when a United Utilities employee has applied for a loan with a financial institution and that financial institution contacts us to verify details of income being received. United Utilities’ policy in relation to providing this information is to gain verbal approval from the relevant employee prior to giving out any information.
4. Complaints and Contact Details
Anyone who feels that there has been an unwarranted invasion of their privacy should contact the Human Resources Manager who is the Company’s Privacy Contact Officer, telephone 61 8 8408 6517. While all employees will be aware of United Utilities’ contact details, they are set out below for convenience: Further information about the Principles of United Utilities’ policies relating to privacy issues can be obtained from the Privacy Contact Officer.