Workplace Identity Theft: How to Curb an HR Headache

By Douglas Hottle, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott

A rise in identity theft is presenting employers with a major headache: They are being held liable for identity theft that occurs in the workplace.

Identity theft is the misuse or fraudulent use of an individual's personal information. Unfortunately for employers, personal data, such as social security and bank account numbers, is precisely what is contained in HR personnel files, a goldmine for ID thieves.

Employers unwittingly aid ID thieves by misusing or mishandling employees' personal information. Consequently, employers are now facing considerable legal repercussions as the victims of such crimes are looking for restitution. For example, a Minnesota employer was recently sued for faxing a list of employees' names and social security numbers to different managers within the company.

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