Human Resources 101

I wonder if Safeway’s supplying this type of personal information is a bit of quid pro quo. We report your employees to you and you return the favour, if necessary.

Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has ruled that Canada Safeway did not have authorization to release personal information of an individual to that person’s employer.

In an order to Canada Safeway, Commissioner Frank Work, has ordered Safeway to cease disclosing the personal information of the complainant and has found that the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) did not allow the organization to disclose information without consent.

The complainant, an employee of another food retail chain, is alleged to have entered a Safeway store while wearing her employee uniform. The complainant gathered several goods, paying for some, but not for others. The complainant was stopped and accused of theft. The incident was reported to Police, but no charges were laid. The Organization then informed the individual’s employer of the incident, and the individual was dismissed.

Following a written inquiry into the matter, the Commissioner has ruled that the Personal Information Protection Act did not authorize the Organization to release personal information without consent, and he has ordered the Organization to no longer release information about the complainant without prior consent.

Download Order P2005-006 (PDF)