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Biometric information is all around us. It enables us to tag friends and family in photos on social media, unlock our phones, pay for groceries and track our workouts. The technology is already beginning to take hold in the workplace as well, as more employers wish to capitalize on quick and reliable employee identification, security and productivity tracking. This article examines the most common biometric applications in the workplace, as well as some of the major privacy risks, and provides guidance for successful compliance with the various authorities that govern the use of this technology.

What is biometric information and how is it collected?

Biometrics are unique physical characteristics used to identify a specific individual. Definitions provided by state privacy laws vary somewhat, but the two most broadly used are "biometric identifier" and "biometric information." "Biometric identifier" refers to records of biological characteristics used to identify an individual. "Biometric information" is a more flexible, catchall term and could refer to information based on an individual's biometric identifier and information used to create an identifier. Examples of biometric data include imagery of the iris, finger or face; fingerprints, facial scans and voiceprints; and some less obvious records such as keystrokes, gait patterns and sleep data.

Biometric technology is widely used in the workplace. A 2018 Spiceworks survey found that 62% of companies polled in North America and Europe already use biometric verification in the workplace. An additional 24% of companies planned to use biometric verification in the workplace by 2020. While smartphone verification may be one of the more common manifestations of the technology, biometrics are used in other contexts as well. Employers may collect and use biometrics to power facial recognition video surveillance; permit access to buildings, machinery and IT systems; and track employee productivity and timekeeping.

Aside from use in everyday workplace...

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