Personnel files not being secured

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I work for a small company (6 people) - which does not have a dedicated HR person. I have discovered some of my, along with a colleague's, personnel files laying on an open network share. This includes information ranging from reference checks on my initial application through performance reviews from the last year.

I am looking for advice on how to bring this up with management?

manpreet 3 years ago

This is a situation where just talking to your management is the easiest thing. Small companies often are informal and most assuredly start more informal. It may be that location was fine when there were fewer employees or the person creating it doesn't even realize others can see it (depending on how technical they are).

Just find some time and ask, "hey, I inadvertently came across my personnel file on our network share in public - this probably shouldn't be public, are you able to restrict access to this or move it?"

Depending on how your network is setup it'd be helpful to suggest ideas. Probably just securing the folder on the share drive will work. Suggestions are always great for a manager regardless.

Also, don't attribute malice when ignorance is likely.