What does GDPR mean for recruitment?

What is the GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a set of regulations that member states of the European Union must implement in order to protect the privacy of digital data. The regulation is also known as the EU Data Protection Regulation, Reg. No. 765/2016.

The regulation applies to any company that processes or intends to process the personal data of individuals in the EU, regardless of whether the company is based inside or outside the EU. The regulation applies to all companies processing the data of EU citizens, regardless of the company’s size or sector.

The regulation requires companies to get explicit consent from individuals before collecting, using, or sharing their personal data. Companies must also provide individuals with clear and concise information about their rights under GDPR, and ensure that individuals can easily exercise their rights.

The regulation also gives individuals the right to file a complaint with the supervisory authority if they believe their rights have been violated.

Why is the GDPR relevant for recruitment

GDPR is relevant for recruitment because the recruitment process often involves the collection and processing of personal data, such as name, address, email address, phone number, CV, and cover letter. In order to comply with GDPR, companies must get explicit consent from individuals before collecting, using, or sharing their personal data for recruitment purposes.

Companies must also provide individuals with clear and concise information about their rights under GDPR, and ensure that individuals can easily exercise their rights. For example, individuals have the right to access their personal data, the right to have their personal data erased, and the right to object to the processing of their personal data.

The GDPR imposes significant fines for companies that violate its provisions, including up to 4% of a company’s global annual revenue or €20 million (whichever is greater), whichever is greater. Therefore, it is important for companies to ensure that they are in compliance with GDPR before collecting, using, or sharing the personal data of EU citizens for recruitment purposes.