The “confidential” employment data at the hands of your employer may not be as secure as you want them to be. Personnel records, resumes, job applications, and other types of employee information are usually assumed to be filed in company offices or secure database. Unfortunately, sometimes this data is stored in locations vulnerable to identity thieves who want to steal your identity and personal information.

Damage to Reputation

In cases like this, the damage to the victims can be great. What is even more alarming is that some of the information available is so in-depth that is can be used to commit crimes, rent houses, buy cars, and create new credit card accounts. Victims who have experienced the severe end of it had to change their legal names because their reputation and life has been destroyed. People who opt to face the challenges spend years trying to disentangle themselves from the damage.

Federal agencies are now taking notice. There are now a lot of awareness campaigns that seek to make both employers and employees alike know about the risks. It is too late for individuals who have already been victimized by this modus operandi. But advocates hope that an increased awareness can help minimize the crime.

Perpetuators of Crime

Employees can’t do much to protect themselves in the workplace because there are different methods to get their information. Among these include:

• Thieves as Temporary Workers – a number of identity thieves try to get in as a temporary worker to get access to employee records.

• Third Party Contractors – when a company asks a contractor to handle credit accounts, secretarial or janitorial services, they may be exposing their employees to identity theft.

• Colleague – co-workers have easiest access to information. They can steal your credit card receipt or even just take a look at your company ID to know your Social Security number.

Protection for Victims

While a lot of efforts are made to hinder identity theft, rights groups are not happy about the lack of protection employees get from their companies. Some groups are currently lobbying legislatures to pass laws that can protect sensitive records.

Fortunately, some lawmakers are listening. Wisconsin and Georgia, for example, are now requiring companies to destroy records containing sensitive personal data. Meanwhile, California is now barring private companies from putting the Social Security number on identification cards.  Having the right identity theft protections services can be the difference in ensuring your protection.