The BBC reports that an online database of workers accused of theft and dishonesty will go live later this month. The National Staff Dismissal Register is an initiative of Action Against Business Crime (AABC) - a partnership between the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium.
The BBC quotes the AABC's chief executive, Mike Schuck, as saying that all participating companies will be obliged to abide by the Data Protection Act and that workers named on the database will have the right to change their entries if they are inaccurate.
More information can be found on the AABC's press release (Word format), which says:
For dishonest employees who have not been convicted or cautioned for their dishonesty there is currently no central location where further checks can be made concerning an applicant’s previous employment history. The current system of employment references is too easily circumvented by dishonest applicants and can result in previously dismissed staff being employed again by another retailer without knowledge of any past conduct.The NSDR provides a secure web-based portal using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which protects data access and encrypts log-in to allow members to access data as part of their staff recruitment process. The application and database are held on separate servers with firewall and Internet Protocol Security (IPSEC) separating application and data for further security.
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Comments (3)
surely people are innocent until PROVEN guilty in the UK?
I can see this being abused by employers with a grievance, with seemingly no way for the subject to amend or lodge an explaination for the entries?
Posted by paul concerned | May 9, 2008 12:55 PM
Posted on May 9, 2008 12:55
Paul - you're not alone, lots of people have made similar points in the comments on the BBC news item. Here's one, for example:
"This is appalling. I know of a girl falsely accused of stealing by an employer because she refused his advances. If this database goes live innocent folk like her could be blacklisted. This should be stopped now. Too many innocents could be caught up in it. only those convicted of dishonesty or assault on co-workers should be included. Innocent until proven guilty.
And another:
"At the age of 18 I was falsely accused of taking money from a till while working in a nightclub (and searched in front of my colleagues, but that was another matter). I left the job immediately after this incident feeling humiliated and disgusted. The idea that someone could use a false accusation like this (which, as anyone knows who works in retail or leisure knows is a common occurrence) against me in securing future employment is disgusting. Especially when a criminal record doesn't stop someone being employed. All it will do is leave more young people unemployed and feeling hopeless."
Posted by David Shepherd | May 9, 2008 1:10 PM
Posted on May 9, 2008 13:10
Wouldn't trust it or encourage it. This whole fixation these days about "telling" on other people - just because you can - is definitely the most distasteful aspect of the internet as far as I am concerned.
There are nightmare employees - I have know a few. There are also nightmare employers. Get over it, live with it, use your own human judgement - whether employer or employee. Take responsibility for your own decisions.
Employing people shouldn't bring problems provided you have good systems and stick to them. When you do that, it is surprising that attitudes of employees change, and the company is treated with respect, and you get far less problems. Relying on tittle-tattle as a recruitment policy is unfair, lazy and not a quick-fix to end your recruitment issues.
Posted by Jeff Nutbeem | May 12, 2008 12:40 PM
Posted on May 12, 2008 12:40