Selection Services PLC

125 hits since 19 August 2008 | Author: Shane Zadrozny

This all started when a request for a reference was received from Selection Services PLC registraion no. 02758710.

We've all got thoughts on what PLC's are and the lavish lifestyle they must enjoy. This does not mean to say that Selection Services PLC dont enjoy these benefits of being what one would perhaps comment is a successful PLC. The only trouble with a PLC one imagines is the regimented framework they must operate in - there's the reporting to the stock market, financial forecasts, accreditations and policies to adhere with.

Is it worth it? Well naturally any company would want to grow to the extent that Selection Services PLC has. Its fair to say that things must be good with their news of major contracts they've won. A quick google of Selection Services PLC freely reveals Bibby Financial Services award of a £1.5Million to Selection Services PLC. A contract award at that level, along with the evidence of tendering by the company for government contracts is surely a positive factor.

With this in mind, imagine my surprise to discover I'd been sent by an employee of Selection Services PLC all the reference requests for the person being reference checked. Naturally when one applies for a job its customary to be asked to provide references. What you wouldn't expect ( or want ) when applying for a vacancy is for all your referees to be disclosed to each other. Perhaps you would not want a previous employer knowing who you have worked for in addition to them. That information is of a personal nature and no doubt the application form may have stated that all information was confidential. So, I sent off an email pointing out the error of the particular employee of Selection Services PLC. I accept it may have been a little harsh but after delving through all the daily email offers of having various body parts enlarged I have not really got time to decipher why I've lots of attachments from Selection services PLC, who at that point I had never heard of, with other peoples names and addresses on in the covering letter. Quite rightly, I asked that this breach of trust of the subject of the reference be investigated by a manager. After all if the investigation reveals a flaw and that flaw is closed then this would be of benefit to future candidates applying for work at Selection Services.

I received a response from the original sender who's breach disclosed the information in the first place stating that they were a 'new starter' and that they had got 'mixed up'. Fair point. People can find it daunting in a new job, but in the role of HR Administrator I would infer that taking references be par of the course. Was it right to brush off my request for a response from a manager? I thought not and questioned this and stated again that I was looking for a response from a manager. It was only fair, due to the possible breach of Selection Services PLC's own Data Protection Policy by themselves with respect of the reference subject that this matter be looked into. Additionally the information they were requesting from me under their covering letter marked 'Strictly Confidential' could perhaps seep out to third parties if the management team were not made aware of the way information was being sent out by email.

I'm pleased to say that after asking once more for a response from a manager I received a response which ultimately ended after a couple of email exchanges with the single word 'boring'. Who could have seen fit to draw close to a potential issue relating to data security with such a blazee response? Could it be a member of the night cleaning team? To my surprise it was non other than the CEO of Selection Services PLC, Alan Cantwell.

Surely any prompting of a company to check its procedures and offer guidance to staff in the efforts of ensuring that confidential information remains confidential should be welcomed. Not being in the position of running a Public Limited Company I can only image how difficult it must be with potential shareholders on the stock exchange looking for the strengths and weaknesses of companies in which their investment could make a difference. It reminded me in a way of the comments made by the CEO of a well known jewellers and the overnight impact those comments had on the company. One imagines the big PLC CEO boys and girls need to remain focused and diplomatic under all circumstances.

I doubt from the emails received from Selection Services PLC that anything will change (unless I hear to the contrary from them ) in regard to their leakage of personal information. I wouldn't be happy if I were the subject of the reference request. Some would say if its happening in one area its happening in another. I guess what comes to my mind is that if I ever get into a CEO seat then I'd like to remain diplomatic in response to any point raised as a matter of courtesy and keeping one's eye on the ball.

 Below are the emails exchanged on this matter, most recent first. Note some details have been purposely removed in the interests of protecting the subject of the reference or in the case of spam prevention

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From: Alan Cantwell
Subject: RE: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED].
Sent: 19 Aug '08 16:57

From: Alan Cantwell
Boring

Alan Cantwell  I  C.E.O.   I  Selection Services Plc  

  _____  

From: shane
Sent: Tue 19/08/2008 16:54
To: Alan Cantwell
Subject: RE: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED].



Hi Alan,
I'm not sure you take seriously the nature of this lapse and clear lack of framework within your company to allow newbies direct, unsupervised access to information that they then e-mail to whoever because they incapable of performing their duties competently.

Do you think [REMOVED] would be happy that your own Data Protection Policy has been breached? Perhaps [REMOVED] does not want me knowing that a [REMOVED] had employed [REMOVED]. Perhaps [REMOVED] also does not want me to know that he employed [REMOVED]. I'm sure that [REMOVED] didn't agree that Selection Services PLC could 'share' details of his employment with others. I would have thought that information was given to Selection Services PLC by [REMOVED] in the strictest of confidence being personal information.

As CEO of a Public Limited Company you're happy for staff to breach your own company's Data Protection Policy and the confidence of prospective employees and pass off! a serious breach as a 'simple error' anyone could make. I'm sorry to tell you that perhaps you need to tighten your reporting procedures with your management team who take responsibility for the day to day running of the Company. It would appear to me that Selection Services PLC hire staff without giving the correct training and dont care about Personal Data or their own Data Protection Policy.

I'm not sure [REMOVED] and [REMOVED] would agree that this is a simple error anyone could make. I don't agree with your view on this serious matter and I am certainly glad that my company does not instruct Selection Services PLC as a supplier, I'd hate to think what could happen to our confidential information even more so with your care-free attitude.

HR Administrators are paid to take references as part of their job. They should not 'get confused' when looking at a confidential employment application form. Anyone who does is in, my opinion, not the correct person ! for the job.

Imagine if [REMOVED] were to discover this lapse and take legal action against Selection Services PLC's breach of Data Protection legislation, you'd be quoted as saying it was a 'simple error that anyone could make'. That would hardly impress stock market investors would it?

I hope you take my words of advice on board, reviewing your own attitude as CEO of the company. You may enjoy spending most of your time on your yacht but I warn you not to be complacent, pointing out the misfortunes of [REMOVED]. With this, if I were you, I'd be booking a flight home with a line of employees waiting outside the boardroom door for a carpeting upon my arrival.

Finally, I refuse to fill in your reference request as I concerned as to whom would see the 'strictly confidential' document when it get's emailed to third parties by your confused, error prone HR Administrators.

[REMOVED]

Regards,

Shane

-------Original Message-------

From: Alan Cantwell
Subject: RE: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED].
Sent: 19 Aug '08 14:51


Hello Shane

On behalf of [REMOVED] I apologise for wasting your time with the incorrect emails. However [REMOVED] has explained it was a simple error one that any individual could make, so demanding a fuller explanation is unnecessary.

Please provide the reference in accordance with your statuary requirements.

Alan Cantwell I C.E.O. I Selection Services Plc

_____

From: shane
Sent: Tue 19/08/2008 12:07
To: [REMOVED]
Subject: RE: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED]



Hi [REMOVED],
I'm rather concerned who you may have e-mailed my details to in your 'mix up' during a routine reference request. After all I'm not privy to the details of [REMOVED] but even so I have them.

I guess you missed this in my original reply:
We're happy to give a reference for [REMOVED]. However, first I'd like to know from your manager, by e-mail, why your company policies have allowed you to e-mail me confidential information unchecked more than once, effectively spamming me.

I await your managers response.

Regards,

Shane

-------Original Message-------

From: [REMOVED]
Subject: RE: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED]
Sent: 19 Aug '08 10:30




Hi Shane,

This was my mistake, I am a new starter at selection services and I had got mixed up with a lot of work. Would you prefer me to send you a fax rather then e-mail?

Kind Regards



[REMOVED] . HR Administrator

This e-mail is confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee only. Selection Services Plc accepts no liability for personal views expressed. While every effort has been made to ensure the attachments are virus-free, they must be checked before further use, especially those containing encrypted data. If you have any problems with this e-mail, please contact our IT Manager on [REMOVED]

Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 2758710 Registered Office: Provident House, 122 High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1EZ
_____

From: shane
Sent: Tuesday, 19 August 2008 09:40 AM
To: [REMOVED]
Subject: Re: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED]


Hi [REMOVED],

Thank you for filling my inbox with three separate requests for a reference for [REMOVED]. We're a small company, so time is at a premium, in addition to the countless spam e-mails offering [REMOVED], I've now to try and decipher why you've sent me three e-mails.

I then find that you've sent me attachments which should not have come to me, hardly 'strictly confidential'. Your excuse, "I am so sorry, I have e-mailed you two completely wrong e-mails where I got mixed up from all the paperwork."

Have you thought of checking the e-mail before you hit the send button, rather than spamming everyone?

I would infer from your job title, HR Administrator, that dealing with paperwork would be a key part of your job description. You must be a real credit to your company.

We're happy to give a reference for [REMOVED]. However, first I'd like to know from your manager, by e-mail, why your company policies have allowed you to e-mail me confidential information unchecked more than once, effectively spamming me.

Very Best Regards,

Shane

-------Original Message-------
From: [REMOVED]
Subject: Reference Request 2 - [REMOVED]
Sent: 18 Aug '08 16:26



Hi Shane,

I am so sorry, I have e-mailed you two completely wrong e-mails where I got mixed up from all the paperwork.

My apologises I will send over the correct copy now but please can you ignore or delete the two e-mails just sent over.

The correct attachment is above.

Kind Regards
[REMOVED] . HR Administrator


This e-mail is confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee only. Selection Services Plc accepts no liability for personal views expressed. While every effort has been made to ensure the attachments are virus-free, they must be checked before further use, especially those containing encrypted data. If you have any problems with this e-mail, please contact our IT Manager on [REMOVED]

Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 2758710 Registered Office: Provident House, 122 High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1EZ