We all know that in a given day at work, there
are usually more tasks to be done than there is time to complete them.While paper
shredding does not seem like a business builder, it sure can save time
and money for businesses who do not want to end up in court or on the
news.
We all know that in a given day at work, there
are usually more tasks to be done than there is time to complete them.
No one wants to add yet another task to the daily routine unless the
task is going to improve business and enhance productivity. While paper
shredding does not seem like a business builder, it sure can save time
and money for businesses who do not want to end up in court or on the
news.
In June 2005, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act went into
effect requiring all businesses (even the tiny ones) to destroy
customer data and records when they are no longer needed. This law is
enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and was enacted to help
protect people against identity theft. The law indicates that any
individual or business who "possesses consumer information for a
business purpose must properly dispose of such information by taking
reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of
the information in connection with its disposal." Companies who do not
properly destroy sensitive customer information are subject to up to
$2500 in fines per violation, up to $1000 in statutory damages per
employee, actual damages if employee records are compromised, and class
action lawsuits brought against them by customers or employees. In
accordance with the law, customer records may be destroyed by burning
or shredding. Burning is not a practical solution for most business
owners, so shredding is by far the more logical and convenient choice.
Paper shredders come in two basic styles, cross-cut and strip-cut.
Cross-cut shredders (also known as confetti-cut, diamond-cut or
micro-cut) offer a more secure shred and a lower volume of waste
although they tend to require more maintenance and may be more
expensive. Strip-cut shredders (also known as straight-cut or
spaghetti-cut) generate more waste and are less secure although they
may be less costly to purchase and maintain.
In addition to these compelling legal reasons for equipping your office
with a shredder, paper shredders also enhance productivity. Instead of
employees having to worry about how to protect sensitive information
that is no longer needed and wasting time seeking direction from their
supervisors, employees can simply shred the documents and be done with
it. Paper shredding also helps to maximize storage space around the
office. When employees are through with documents, they can be shredded
and disposed of instead of stacked up in dusty storage rooms.
Paper shredders protect more than your clients and employees; they also
protect you. You can use your paper shredder to destroy records and
communications you do not want others to see. Seeing your sensitive
materials in the wrong hands can be embarrassing and costly. Given the
alternative, a paper shredder is a meaningful investment. While you may
be concerned about the price of a paper shredder, the knowledge that
your employee records and customer information are protected is worth
every penny. No one wants to end up in court trying to explain how or
why confidential data were compromised.
Jeff McRitchie is the director of marketing for MyBinding.com He writes extensively on topics related to Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Shredders, Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Pouches and more.
