Businesses must do more to protect data

02/10/2008

Employers have been given a stark warning after a new report revealed six in 10 workers have been put of ID theft because of their bosses’ apathetic approach to data security.

The report, by life assistance company CPP, found more than 90% of workers say their place of work needs to implement a tougher data protection policy, while nine in 10 bosses confessed recent data breaches by government departments has had no effect on their own data security.

Almost 20% of workers said they don’t trust their employer to keep their personal information protected, while less than a third said they are satisfied with their employer’s data security provisions, and 40% said they have ‘no idea’ who accesses their personal data at work.

A quarter of employers confess to taking workers’ personal information out of the office, and nearly 20% say they have left it lying on their desks. One in 10 said they store sensitive information on USB sticks, with the same number admitting to failing to shred employees’ personal information.

Danny Harrison, identity theft expert from CPP, said: “Companies are holding increasing amounts of their workforce’s personal information, exposing employees to potential impersonation. Employers have a responsibility to protect their staff – yet it seems a week doesn’t go by without a company or government department reporting a loss of data.

“ID theft, as a result of employer’s carelessness, is now a real concern for British workers and we are at greater risk than ever before.

“Employees need to consider their options to guard against this, such as taking out identity protection, but they should also push for change to ensure that their workplaces toughen up their act. The time for complacency is over – there can’t be a weak link in the chain,” he added.