Skip to content or view screen version

Blacklisting Employees

GFCAX | 06.03.2009 14:37 | World

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) said a secret system had been run for over 15 years to enable firms to unlawfully vet job applicants. And it is deeply disappointing that firms which are "household names" had been involved.




 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7927487.stm
This kind of practice is very wrong and undermines the courts, by having a means of punishing people in a non-judicial manner.

The National Staff Dismissal Register - The register is an initiative of Action Against Business Crime (AABC), a partnership between the Home Office and the British Retail Consortium and was set up by Surrey based, Hicom Business Solutions  http://www.hicom.co.uk/businesssolutions/literature/nsdr_datasheet.pdf

 http://www.changeboard.com/hrcircles/blogs/editor/archive/2008/06/18/national-staff-dismissal-register-guilty-by-database-speechly-speak.aspx
The database will allow employers to search for potential workers by name, address, date of birth, national insurance number and previous employer. Records on individuals – accessible online via an encrypted password system - will be kept for a five-year period and can include photos.
There appears to be no regulatory body monitoring the listings. Individuals can be included on the Register without any trial or criminal conviction, so there is a risk that it could be abused by employers. There is a real risk that individuals could be “blacklisted” from any organisation that has access to the information.

The TUC is seriously concerned that this register can only lead to people being shut out from the job market by an employer who falsely accuses them of misconduct or sacks them because they bear them a grudge. Individuals would be treated as criminals, even though the police have never been contacted.
The Criminal Records Bureau was set up to assist employers to make safe appointments when recruiting staff to work with vulnerable groups. The CRB already provides appropriate and properly regulated protection for employers. Under the new register, an employee may not be aware they have been blacklisted or have any right to appeal.

GFCAX

Additions

Comments

Display the following 4 comments

  1. one sided. — McQn
  2. Well McQn — Anti Bullying (at work) Union
  3. cynic in me says the govt wants a monopoly on doing this — anon
  4. Online book on the Economic League — anon