By MEGAN MOSELEY
By MEGAN MOSELEY
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Big Island resident Warren Chong said it’s a problem that costs employers time and money.
“In 2005, 5 million people had their identity stolen, and most of those occurred in the workplace,” he said to a room full of local business representatives during last Thursday’s Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce event.
Chong spoke as an independent representative for LegalShield, a company that specializes in identity theft protective services. According to Chong, it’s been the number one crime reported to the Federal Trade Commission for the past 13 years. He said it’s an issue employers should not be taking lightly since statistics show companies can waste about 1,600 work-hours trying to “clean up the mess.”
Instead, he encouraged listeners to be prepared.
“Would you believe that different layers of protection could help you in a car accident, such as wearing your seatbelt or having air bags? It’s the same with identity theft,” he said. “It’s easier to stay out of trouble then to get out of trouble.”
Chong offered insights on how employers can help protect themselves and their employees.
Suggestions included, evaluating security measures regularly, offering effective security that is dynamic and requires constant monitoring and updating, creating a written program that is included in the employee manual and having employees sign a confidentiality agreement.
Judith Fox-Goldstein, administrative director with the University of Hawaii Hilo Conference Center, said the event was informative.
“I think it brought up the importance of being aware. You might think this will only happen to other people and won’t happen to me. It should be a service you offer to anybody who you’re working with or dealing with because it lifts your integrity,” she said. “It’s like the Betty Crocker seal of approval that shows that you as a company are thinking about the employees.”
Along with Fox-Goldstein, Wendy Light, attending on behalf of the Joint Astronomy Center, said the discussion was helpful.
“The event heightened my awareness and reinforced things that were already in the back of my mind,” she said.
For more information about the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce events visit www.hicc.biz.
Email Megan Mosely at mmosely@hawaiitribune-herald.com.