FOI Requests for Employees and Former Employees

Employees, former employees and contractors sometimes need recorded information from a public authority but do not want to be personally identified to that organisation.

FOI Proxy UK reviews confidential enquiries and, where suitable, submits Freedom of Information requests in its own name using its own contact details.

Your identity is treated as confidential and is not disclosed to the public authority unless disclosure is legally required.

Start a Confidential FOI Enquiry View Service Levels & Pricing

When Employees May Need Discreet Information

There can be legitimate reasons for seeking information discreetly, especially where the organisation involved is a council, NHS body, police force, university, college, regulator, government department or other public authority.

You want policies, procedures or decision records
You want statistics or spending information
You are researching how a public body handles a particular issue
You are a former employee seeking general recorded information
You do not want to alert the organisation to your interest at an early stage

FOI Is Not Usually for Your Own Personal Data

If you want information about yourself, a Subject Access Request may be more appropriate than a Freedom of Information request.

FOI is generally used to request recorded information held by public authorities, not to obtain your own personal employment file, HR records, medical records, disciplinary records or other personal data.

FOI Proxy UK may decline enquiries that appear to be more suitable for a Subject Access Request or another legal route.

How FOI Proxy UK Handles Employee-Related Enquiries

Confidential Enquiry

You explain what recorded information you want and which public authority may hold it.

Suitability Review

We check whether FOI appears to be the right route and whether the request can be framed clearly.

Wording Confirmation

We confirm the proposed wording and service level with you before submission.

Discreet Submission

Where suitable, FOI Proxy UK submits the request in its own name using its own contact details.

Examples of Suitable FOI Topics

Internal policies and procedures
Staffing statistics or workforce data
Spending, procurement or contract information
Complaints handling statistics
Risk assessments or governance documents
Decision-making records where personal data is not being requested

Important Limits

FOI Proxy UK does not provide employment advice, legal advice or litigation support.

We do not guarantee that information will be disclosed. Public authorities may refuse requests where exemptions apply, where the cost limit is exceeded, where information is not held, or where the request is considered vexatious or repeated.

We do not submit requests for unlawful, abusive or malicious purposes.

Start a Confidential FOI Enquiry

Tell us what information you would like obtained and which public authority may hold it. Please avoid including unnecessary personal information about yourself or anyone else.

Start a Confidential FOI Enquiry