• by Ray Schultz , September 28, 2018

UK office workers are more likely to be taken to task for not emptying the dishwater than for failure to comply with GDPR, according to a new study by Fellowes. 

Of 1,000 workers polled, only 14% of workers say they have been blasted for carelessly handling confidential data.

However, 25% have drawn fire from their bosses for not keeping up with office chores such as having a tidy workplace or tasks related to dishwater. And 17% have tasted their superiors’ wrath for being late or missing deadlines.

The study also found that 54% saw personal or confidential data that should have been off limits to them. Moreover, 33% have left such data unattended.

For instance, 19% have left a USB pen lying around, and 14% have left confidential documents in public places.

Moreover, 45% have sent confidential emails to the wrong person, and 61% have received such emails.

“It’s a worrying sign that companies in the UK are more concerned about office chores than GDPR, which could cost businesses millions of pounds,” states Darryl Brunt, Country Head UK & Ireland at Fellowes. “One in ten workers don’t know who is responsible for GDPR within their business, and the truth is, protecting confidential data is everyone’s responsibility.”

Brunt adds: “It’s also troubling to see that almost one in five workers haven’t been given a concrete policy for handling GDPR. This has to change, or businesses will pay the price.”