National Staff Dismissal Register: A step too far?

The launch of the National Staff Dismissal Register at the end of this month has caused quite a stir in the business world. Kerry Waters and Emma Roe explain the legal implications of the initiative.

A National Staff Dismissal Register for retail employers is expected to go live shortly. The register is a commercial initiative championed by the Action Against Business Crime (AABC) Group. It already boasts some high profile supporters, including Harrods, Mothercare and Selfridges, who, it says, have already signed up.

The register will apparently hold data on individuals who are dismissed for prescribed 'dishonesty' reasons, including theft and/or damage, and on individuals who resign part way through a disciplinary process or investigation based on such reasons. The organisations that have signed up to the scheme will have access to this information and are likely to use this in their employee vetting process.