12 May 2008, 19:50 PM
  • The National Staff Dismissal Register (NSDR), which aims at creating a database of retail employees fired for dishonesty, is being launched this May amid fears innocent victims might find it impossible to ever find another job.

The NSDR is supported by a number of key retailers including Harrods, HMV, Mothercare and Selfridges. The register has been developed to hold details of individuals who have been dismissed or have left employment whilst under investigation for acts of dishonesty toward the company including theft of money or merchandise, falsification or forgery of documents and causing damage to company property. This information is shared with other members of the register who are able to access the national system to search for details of an applicant.

Mike Schuck, chief executive of Action Against Business Crime, says, “We are very pleased indeed to have launched the NSDR and look to it providing an increasingly valuable service to help retailers reduce losses by dishonest staff. With the increasing sophistication of internal dishonesty, we need to ensure the industry has the most effective tools at its disposal to help reduce losses.”

However, the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has voiced its concerned at the potential abuse such a system could lead to. The organisation’s policy officer, Hannah Reed, told the BBC, “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 (CRB) 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.”