University Human Resources Confidentiality Statement

The University of Michigan Human Resources Office (UHR) is committed to promoting an environment that retains the full trust and confidence of the faculty, staff, students and University community. UHR staff pledge to promote a respectful workplace and honor the rights of faculty and staff of the University.

In our daily work we are in the unique and responsible position of having access to and being aware of an array of highly sensitive personal, medical and workplace information. This information comes to us directly from individuals or third parties associated with them and their work. Information we have received of a personal nature will be disclosed to other parties or colleagues only when it is legally required or essential to the operation of the University, and then on a strict need-to-know basis.

UHR endorses the following statements and principles of confidentiality:

• Conduct of UHR staff shall be guided by integrity, discretion and dignity, and they shall expect and encourage such conduct by others.
• Personal information or information which an individual requests be kept confidential and private will not be released unless there is compelling legal or operational reasons for its release.
• When individuals ask for assistance with given matters, we will first inform them before sharing their name or information about them with others.
• Personal information about staff, faculty or any member of the University community including information in databases and hard copy files shall be kept secured and shall not be readily accessible to others.
• Discussion of a faculty or staff member's personal information will be conducted only when necessary and appropriate with other staff, and only on a strict need-to-know basis, and in utmost privacy.

The University Human Resources Office of the University of Michigan will publish this policy so that all faculty, staff and members of the University community are aware of our commitment to the principles of confidentiality. Employees of UHR are required to agree to and abide by these guidelines as a condition of employment.

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