NEW YORK, March 27, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sterling Testing Systems, Inc., a leading provider of pre-employment screening services, today announced its induction into the list of Safe Harbor certified organizations for its adherence to the European Union Directives on Data Protection. The Safe Harbor certification allows approved U.S. companies access to European databases of private information by adequately fulfilling the stringent personal data and privacy protection policies stipulated by the European Union.
Currently, more than 25 percent of U.S. companies look overseas to recruit skilled foreign workers as reported by the Society for Human Resource Management. Sterling Testing Systems, consistently a leader in protecting sensitive consumer and employee data, is now able to extend to its clients a more comprehensive database of background information of employees from the entire European Union. Without Safe Harbor certifications, multinational corporations would not be able to transfer basic information about their employees to the United States.
"Safe Harbor certification recognizes Sterling as one of the very few trusted companies that are truly committed to security and the protection of confidential data," said Joe Rotondo, Vice President of Compliance at Sterling Testing Systems. "The biggest benefit, however, is for our clients, who through Sterling now have access to critical background data on millions of European skilled workers and can streamline their recruitment efforts, and hire with confidence."
The Safe Harbor agreement has historically been a bridge between the strict European policies requiring legislation to safeguard private information and the U.S.-based guidelines that rely on industry self-regulation in addition to federal and state legislation. Adherence to the Safe Harbor directives demonstrates Sterling's steadfast and proactive approach to information security on the global scale.
With greater than 80 percent of U.S. employers conducting background checks, security measures continue to be a specific concern in the wake of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and legislative crackdowns on companies that disseminate personal information without prior permission. The Safe Harbor initiatives are a necessary measure to assure citizens of the European Union that they are equally protected from identity theft and other such risks associated with the sharing of personal information.
Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the U.S. In 2005 alone, the FTC estimates that almost 10 million Americans were victims of some type of identity theft. As American employers continue to look across the Atlantic to expand their workforce, security standards will be a foremost concern for EU skilled workers.
Sterling Testing Systems
Sterling Testing Systems are business information providers and the foremost experts in pre-employment screening, harnessing 30 years of expertise to help companies hire right the first time and avoid costly mistakes. Sterling maintains a 99% client retention rate among its 6000 clients from the Fortune 500 to small to mid-sized enterprises in a wide range of industries including healthcare, financial services, retail and publishing. Sterling's proprietary technology rapidly links HR professionals to the background check data they need, and its Sterling Direct testing module seamlessly integrates into more than 15 unique HR software programs. For more information, visit www.sterlingtesting.com.