Trusting Your Boss with Your Data: The Role of Intuition

What is it about?

This research looks at how employees in Slovakia decide whether to trust their workplace’s handling of personal data. It focuses on how people use intuition—gut feelings—rather than just logic or rules when making these decisions. In today’s digital workplaces, employees are constantly asked to give consent for how their data is used. But many feel overwhelmed or unsure about what they’re agreeing to. Understanding how people judge the credibility of these practices can help organizations build better trust. A Team from Slovakia and Germany surveyed 230 employees in Slovakia. They analyzed how people think—whether they rely more on intuition or rational analysis—when evaluating their employer’s data privacy practices. Many employees trust their organization’s data protection efforts. This trust often comes from unconscious or intuitive thinking, not just from reading policies or understanding regulations. People don’t strictly stick to one thinking style; they mix intuition and logic depending on the situation.

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Photo by Privecstasy on Unsplash

Photo by Privecstasy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Managers and data controllers should recognize that employees often rely on gut feelings when judging privacy practices. Clear communication and trustworthy behavior matter just as much as legal compliance. Understanding how employees think can help prevent issues like data breaches, whistleblowing, or public backlash.

Perspectives