Getting Blacklisted for Employment

I don’t usually have a problem with people in authority recording more information about me, I’m not scared that giving them a copy of my DNA could lead to a problem. I would happily carry an ID card with me everywhere I went if needed (although I’m not completely for the idea of having to pay a stupendous amount but thats another story). I’m an innocent person, I have nothing to hide, after all its not like the information can be falsied by some one holding a grudge against me. Also, despite some recent blunders the data is usually pretty secure so it’s not as if there is much chance of someone getting hold of my DNA (and at this point in time what good would it do them there are no clones yet!*). I don’t even have a problem with having my background checked out by a prospective employer, I was going to be a teacher once upon a time so I have had a CRB check run on me. What I do have a problem with is a database were information can be submitted about an individual by an employer with no evidence to back it up.

This BBC News Story speaks of a new database to be made available to employers towards the end of May.

An online database of workers accused of theft and dishonesty, regardless of whether they have been convicted of any crime, which bosses can access when vetting potential employees.An online database of workers accused of theft and dishonesty, regardless of whether they have been convicted of any crime, which bosses can access when vetting potential employees.

- BBC News

The way the story reads to me (and to a lot of others judging by the comments) an employer will be able to submit information to the database about an ex-employee even if it is only allegation i.e. the police did not think there was enough evidence. Said information will be then available for other employers to search through when looking up prospective employees. Now in an ideal world this would work great, everyone would submit only truthful information, no one would be tempted to make something up just to satisfy a grudge right? Right?

Last time I checked not everyone was completely honest. Strangely enough there are people out there who might think to use the database as a way to satisfy some grudge or need for revenge (shocking isn’t it). There is a reason that an ex employer is only allowed to either refuse to give a reference, or give a good one, to stop them doing exactly the same thing. But under the data protection act, everyone has the right to see what data an entity holds about them in a database. Well thats all well and good if you know that said entity holds information about you, but something tells me this new body (its not a government initiative btw) wont be sending a letter to each and every individual that gets put on the database to let them know about it. It’s hard to challenge mis-information if you don’t know about it after all.

I have to wonder though, what would happen if a similar database was started where employee’s could record information about employers who mistreat of their staff members, something tells me it would get sued to for slander or libel with in a matter of weeks.

Posted by Andy May 2008

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