GDPR for Irish Employers

As an employer, GDPR (and Ireland’s Data Protection Act 2018) places significant responsibilities on your business regarding how you collect, process, store, and share employee personal data. This is not just an IT issue; it is a fundamental HR and legal compliance requirement. We provide clear, practical advice on GDPR requirements specifically related to employee data, from recruitment through to termination. Our team also develops bespoke GDPR-compliant HR policies such as Employee Privacy Notices and Data Protection Policies, ensuring they fit your specific operations.

We offer practical, hands-on support to ensure your HR practices are fully GDPR compliant. Our advisors understand the specific challenges SMEs face and provide tailored solutions, not generic checklists.

GDPR is built on several core data protection principles that your business must uphold when processing employee data. We ensure your practices align with each of these requirements.

GDPR grants employees several important rights regarding their personal data, and your business must have procedures in place to facilitate them. One of the most common is the Subject Access Request (SAR), where employees can request access to all personal data you hold. Your business must respond within one month, which involves identifying, retrieving, and providing all relevant records. We help you establish a compliant SAR procedure so you can respond correctly and lawfully.

Even with robust security, data breaches can happen. If a breach involving employee data occurs and poses a risk to individuals, you must notify the Data Protection Commission (DPC) within 72 hours, and in some cases, the affected individuals directly. We help your business develop a Data Breach Response Plan, outlining steps to contain, assess, notify, and review any breach, minimising harm and ensuring compliance. For related workplace investigations, we can support those processes too.

GDPR compliance is not a one-time project; it requires ongoing attention as your business changes and data protection laws evolve. Modern HR software designed with GDPR compliance at its core provides a secure, centralised platform for storing employee data, contracts, and policy acknowledgements. Features such as permission-based access controls, data encryption, and audit trails help demonstrate compliance. We offer retained HR support to provide continuous GDPR guidance, periodic reviews, and staff training.

Worried about GDPR and employee data? Contact us for practical guidance on your compliance obligations. Whether you need a full HR audit, policy development, or ongoing support, our team will help you protect your business and your employees’ data with confidence.