Two state agencies promised Thursday to keep a closer eye on their discarded papers after a newspaper reporter found personal records with sensitive information in trash bins outside their Capitol-area offices.
A Belleville News-Democrat reporter fished out records containing names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other personal information from trash bins at the state Department of Employment Security and the Department of Human Rights.
The documents included the appeals of two women seeking unemployment insurance benefits. One of the women was in disbelief and then angry when contacted with the results of her appeal before the state’s notice had reached her by mail.
“That’s just crazy. It shouldn’t be in the trash,” said Tara Roberts, 23, of Danville.
Records outside the Human Rights office contained names and personal details about two women who made sexual discrimination complaints against their bosses. Both complaints are still active.
The newspaper searched the trash bins Wednesday, a day after the Department of Employment Security had vowed to improve its security. Earlier, the newspaper had found personal records outside Employment Security and Human Rights offices in and around Belleville.
Officials with both agencies said Thursday they are working to prevent further slip-ups. Spokeswoman Anjali Julka said the Human Rights Department’s policy is to shred documents. Senior officials are reviewing the situation, she said. “These documents are not for public viewing,” Julka said. “We are working toward ensuring that doesn’t happen again.”
