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My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening free website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea, and it might work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in five continents. This entire thing is sanctioned by the very head of HR and has the CEO's and board's blessing.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...

My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening free website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea, and it might work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in five continents. This entire thing is sanctioned by the very head of HR and has the CEO's and board's blessing.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...

Edit: I've closed the accounts today by talking to the website ops directly. Let's see if HR comes back to me. I may then need to cite my contract, the law or simply what constitutes good manners to them.

Thanks so much for all the answers.

My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea, and it might work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in five continents. This entire thing is sanctioned by the very head of HR and has the CEO's and board's blessing.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...

My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening free website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea, and it might work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in five continents. This entire thing is sanctioned by the very head of HR and has the CEO's and board's blessing.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...

My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea. And it'd work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in all continents (except Africa and Antarctica). So nobody is going to take anything serious unless it affects them personally.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...

My employer (more specifically: HR) keeps opening website accounts on my behalf (using my name, work email and DOB) on websites. Some are work-related, some are not, but in no case are relevant to the job that I'm doing. For example, some provide benefits like restaurant coupons, etc. No money is spent by HR or my employer. These voucher sites are paid for by data mining companies. And that's where the issue lays: You pay for a 10% discount with your privacy (and a ton of ads in your inbox).

Arguing with a bad image is a good idea, and it might work if the company would be smaller. But even HR are pretty much detached. My employer is a global IT company, with branches in five continents. This entire thing is sanctioned by the very head of HR and has the CEO's and board's blessing.

How can I let HR know that I don't want this (I'm happy to forfeit the benefits of these website, as they don't apply to me/I won't use them at all). Should I argue with privacy, which I'm concerned about (running the risk of bewildering them as most people don't even have an idea of what privacy is), or should I simply state that I don't wish to have these accounts because I don't need them?

If I knew it were illegal, I'd argue with the illegality, but I have not been able to determine whether this is legal or not (in Australia). I've found no answer to this question on the net, not even FairWorks or HumanRights have an answer. I could ask a solicitor/lawyer, but there must be an answer to this out there without spending 100 bucks in consultation fee...