Saturday, June 29, 2013

The Ties That Bind

Nice to know New Zealand isn't the only country where businesses inadvertently distribute confidential information to all!
In Massachusetts, USA, Emily Dreyfuss's fiancé ordered a tie and pocket handkerchief on-line from the Gap chain Banana Republic, to go with his suit for his upcoming wedding.
What came in the mail instead? Confidential files of about 20 former employees, including Social Security numbers and tax forms!
Emily had misgivings about the package as soon as it arrived. It was quite heavy and didn't say Banana Republic, but Gap Inc. She thought it may have been a really heavy piece of clothing with catalogues. But inside were three folders sealed with tape and labelled 'HR Administration'. They contained tax and Social Security information as well as handwritten resignation letters, doctors' notes and salary information: the employees' entire record at the company.
San Francisco-based Gap Inc. blamed the mix-up on human error. It sent a self-addressed, stamped envelope to return the information in.
Richard Dreyfuss:
"We're gonna need a bigger boat tie!"




It also offered the couple a free tie and pocket handkerchief ($61 value): they declined.
As Emily Dreyfuss is the daughter of actor Richard Dreyfuss, I wonder if this wee episode will one day be turned into a movie plot...

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