6|Retail News|November 2012|www.retailnews.ie
News
Employers Accused of Invasive Jobseeker Screening EMPLOYERS are treating jobseekers to invasive character checks, a union spokesperson has told Retail News. Esther Lynch, legislation and legal affairs officer for Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), began looking into the area of preemployment screening after jobseekers told a recruitment company about the type of information they are asked for in interviews. “We’ve also been looking at the type of services being supplied to employers,” she said. “On the basis they’re being supplied, they’re probably being used.” These services include Liedetector.ie an online resource for lie detecting. Other screening methods include credit card checks and jobseekers handing over Facebook passwords, said Lynch. “We’re saying there needs to be a code of practice. If you’re going to be in charge of security of a bank, your past record is hugely important. If you don’t have those types of
responsibilities, and perhaps as a young person you made some mistakes, you shouldn’t have to disclose the facts of your childhood mistakes. Certainly, an employer shouldn’t be justified to use this as a reason not to give you the job.” Retailers are likely to be more cautious about hiring new staff due to rising incidences of shoplifting. A recent study from Retail Ireland found 82% of retailers had experienced shoplifting over the last two years. 39% of retailers reported stock stolen by their own staff. CSNA CEO Vincent Jennings said he had not heard of these types of invasive
New EU Website for Product Recalls CONSUMERS and businesses worried about whether a product they are considering purchasing complies with European and international safety requirements can now look it up in the new Global Recalls portal. This new international portal, launched in Brussels recently, allows authorities across the world to exchange information about unsafe products that have been taken off the market. The ‘Global Recalls Portal’ is a project developed jointly by EU and OECD countries including the US, Australia and Canada. The portal, whose data is in searchable format, will contribute to boosting consumer safety across the world and will enhance consumers’ awareness and confidence in buying global. With an expected 3,000 product recall notices per year, consumers, businesses and authorities will have access to a remarkable pool of information on recalled products, updated on a regular basis by the EU (through RAPEX, the EU rapid alert system for dangerous nonfood products), US, Canadian and Australian authorities. See http://globalrecalls.oecd.org for more.
character checks. “Anything you do has to be within the law,” said Jennings. “You would have an obligation to yourself and fellow employees to ensure the character of somebody. A clean reference from a Garda would be pretty useful, as would a good reference from a former employer. Facebook? For God’s sake, what am I going to learn? That they get drunk every now and again?”
Fresh Irish Food Fair UP to 30 Irish food producers and suppliers showcased their wares recently at ‘Fresh - The Good Food Market’, Smithfield. Every province in Ireland was represented at this event, including Swift Fine Foods of Monaghan (Ulster); On the Pigs Back Pate’s and Terrines from West Cork and Chris Cooks Tasty Meals made in Youghal Co. Cork (Munster); Sushi King, Dublin, and Italicatessen of Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow (Leinster) and Foods of Athenry (Connacht). In addition, ‘Taste The View’ also represented a collection of artisan producers from around the country, like Keogh’s potato crisps, Derrycamma Farm, Kilbeggan Organic Foods and many more. Latest health food ranges from Foods of Athenry (Gluten Free), Superlife (Smoothie mixes) and Detox Retox (bread, cakes and crackers, free from grains, gluten, wheat, dairy, sugar, yeast, soya and peanut) were available, alongside Tully B’s Argentinian ‘Chimichurri’ sauces, delicious macaroons from Armelle’s Kitchen from Kilcullen; seafood sausages, cheeses, breads, meats and ice-cream.