A new code of practice released by the Information Commissioners Office and specifically aimed at the recruitment industry has effectively left every recruitment website in the UK open to prosecution as a law breaker.
The Employment Practices Data Protection Code has, for the first time, interpreted data protection law specifically for the recruitment industry and results show a startling 99% of all agency and corporate recruitment websites breach the guidelines and hence break the law in at least one, and often up to four separate areas.
4mat have been working closely with the Information Commissionerís Office to understand the implications of the act for the industry. Managing director, Giles Guest said: ìWe are already seeing a huge increase in the demand for information about the new code as companies fear negative publicity, a loss of candidates and clients and possible prosecution. Especially with the breaches being so obvious on a public website we are recommending that all companies act decisively and quickly.î
The new code runs into 50 plus pages and according to 4mat among its requirements is that all websites should provide a secure method for sending online applications. In a survey by 4mat of 200 websites less than 1% fulfilled this criteria.
The code also makes other recommendations about candidate applications and the security behind the website, all of which make grim reading for any company not aware of or tackling the issues.
Help is at hand however. With assistance from the Information Commissionerís Office 4mat have developed an information report and web site review that can check a website and its compliance with the guidelines and act. The review is currently being offered free and more details can be found at 4matís website.
4mat finds solution to illegal websites
New Data Protection Code could make every recruitment website a law breaker
