As data generated through workplace technologies expands, especially with AI-enabled tools, new approaches are emerging to rethink how employee data is managed and who has a say in its use. Two terms describe this:

• Employee Data
  • Information collected and used by employers about their employees. This can include basic Human Resources (HR) records such as role, pay, and tenure; performance evaluations, and skills and training records. It may also include information about work patterns and behavior, such as scheduling, time use, and paid time off (PTO). In most organizations today, this data is controlled and managed by the employer.
• Employee Data Trusts
  • An emerging approach to managing employee data that gives workers more visibility, input, and protection in how their data is used. Instead of employers having full control, this model introduces shared rules about how data is collected, accessed, and used. The goal is to ensure that employee data is handled in ways that are clear, appropriate, and accountable. Some models may include a neutral third party to help manage these rules.