If you’re a business working with freelancers or contractors, being GDPR compliant is critical. GDPR (or General Data Protection Regulation) is a set of rules and regulations put in place in May of 2018. The rules were created in an effort to safeguard data privacy for people living in Europe. Even though the rules are meant primarily for EU citizens, it affects any kind of international business that has Europe-based clients or stakeholders. 

In short, GDPR was created to give individuals more control over their personal data. It allows them to choose who they share their data with, and how much. Because of these rules, individuals can now access, deny, limit, edit, move, or delete any kind of data that they share with any digital platform.  

So what does this mean for freelancers in a business environment? 

Data maintenance is a big challenge for companies when it comes to GDPR rules. Freelancer data is often unorganized and distributed randomly. And in most cases, freelancers aren’t aware of the ways in which their personal data is used by hiring companies. In addition, freelancers might not receive proper (and thorough) onboarding training like a full-time employee would. Email threads and random data files are not enough to provide freelancer data, and stay compliant with GDPR regulations. 

How can businesses work towards establishing GDPR compliance with freelancers? 

Unfortunately the GDPR rules make policies feel ambiguous to freelancers, since the rules are more targeted to full-time employees. To ensure your being GDPR compliant with freelancers, the best piece of advice we can give is to give them complete authority to choose if their data can be retained for future reference or if they’re ok with it being shared with stakeholders and other partners. Consider creating a sign-up form where they can share their preferences. Doing this during the onboarding process is critical — if you want too long, you could’ve already broken rules you didn’t mean to. And last but not least, give them the option to delete or cancel their data/profile at any point in the future if they decide to do so.

What about freelancer management platforms? Are those GDPR compliant? 

If you can afford it, then yes! Freelancer management platforms are a great way to create a centralized location for all your businesses freelancing efforts. It standardizes freelancer on-boarding and managing, so data isn’t being thrown through multiple channels. Most come pre-designed with templates for freelancer engagement, which help towards GDPR compliance. If you’re unable to obtain a freelancer management platform, the next best step is to audit your current process and identify the gaps. It might be tedious, but it’s your best bet at avoiding any unlawful actions. 

Can I hire someone to assist me in GDPR compliance? 

Yes you can, and you’ve come to the right place! Thinline Technologies can assist you in ensuring your organization is staying GDPR compliant, along with any other cyber security needs. Visit our services page for more info, or give us a call today at (410) 453-9300.