Employee Privacy: Alaska

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Thomas M. Daniel, Perkins Coie LLP

Summary

• The Alaska Constitution contains an express right to privacy. See Constitutional Right to Privacy.
• Alaska also recognizes a common law claim for invasion of privacy. See Common Law Invasion of Privacy Claims.
• Alaska law generally prohibits employers from using lie detector tests. See Prohibition on Employer Lie Detecting Devices.
• Alaska's Drug Testing and Alcohol Impairment Testing Acts sets forth parameters for employers choose to voluntarily establish a drug and alcohol policy and testing. See Drug and Alcohol Testing.
• Alaska has laws that address monitoring and surveillance of employees and employee communications. See Employee Surveillance and Monitoring.
• In Alaska employers must be careful to ensure protection of personal employee information including social security numbers. See Protection of Personal Information.
• Alaska law addresses criminal records checks, background checks and reference checks. See Criminal Records Check; Mandatory Background Checks; and Reference Checks.