Mar 06 2009
Firm “sold workers’ secret data” - how widespread is this?
“The information watchdog has shut down a company which it says sold workers’ confidential data, including union activities, to building firms.
A raid on The Consulting Association in Droitwich, Worcs, revealed a serious breach of the Data Protection Act, the Information Commissioner’s Office said.
The ICO said a secret system was run for over 15 years enabling employers to unlawfully vet job applicants.”
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7927487.stm
Concerned that the recruitment industry might be using similar blacklists more widely, I followed up the story with the following post to the BBC’s website:
“One thing that concerns me is that this practice may be more widespread and extend beyond the construction industry: Information Technology and financial services would seem the most natural users of such data.
I would have assumed that, collectively, the recruitment and human resources sectors would operate such blacklists in the same fashion as credit reference agencies; arguably for their clients’ protection.
We can only hope that these revelations regarding the actions of The Consulting Association open up the metaphorical floodgates relating to protectionist policies.”
As well as political affiliation and activity, other personal data such as economic factors, physical and mental health status, disability and other issues - many of which are subject to anti-discrimination legislation - might well be secretly traded between recruiters and their clients. Does anyone have any evidence or experience of this?
