People might be prickly about how businesses use consumers' online data, but by and large, they trust their bosses with their personal information, especially when it's used to improve workplace security. According to a new survey by market research firm Harris Interactive, 76% of the 1,258 people surveyed believe their companies have "pretty good to excellent privacy rules and policies" governing employees.

Better than 80% of respondents working for private companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations say they would be willing to have a company ID card with a photo, basic personnel information, and a biometric identifier in an effort to improve workplace security.

One example of growing trust is with the health-care industry, where privacy concerns have been addressed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that became law in 1996. "I think most of us are not concerned of the misuse of information thanks to HIPAA and audit trails in place prior," says Dr. Joseph Kannry, chief of clinical Informatics for the Mount Sinai NYU Health System. "Health care has a particular sensitivity to employee records because it's one industry where you can become a client at the company you are working for."

The poll, the Privacy & American Business Study, was conducted by Harris for the nonprofit Center for Social & Legal Research.