The CBC reports on B.C. Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham’s expressed concerns about the rise in police information checks in the hiring process. Denham worries that the results of these checks contain more information than is necessary for hiring managers: “One individual,” she told CBC, “had had a mental health apprehension—a suicide attempt—and when she tried to find a job doing regular office work, what came back was ‘suicide attempt’ written on the bottom of the police information check.” She did not get the job. The Vancouver Police Department says they use discretion, however, and that of 15,825 checks last year, just 49 contained any mental health information. Denham’s office is taking public comment on the matter until Feb. 21.
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