What is a Shred All Policy?
A shred-all policy simply means that all documents are required to be shredded as soon as they expire. Whether this is for security purposes or budget constraints, there are a number of reasons you might want to consider including a shred-all policy in your document management plan.
Why you Should Consider a Shred All Policy for Your Business
- Reduces Human Error
The alternative to a shred-all policy is having someone manually sort through each document to decide whether or not it gets sent to the shredder or just the recycling bin. Unfortunately, we humans are notorious for making errors when it comes to these types of tasks. The time-consuming nature of the sorting process weighs heavily on our decision-making ability.
This opens the door to sensitive information finding its way to the recycle bin instead of the shredder where it is much more vulnerable to theft.
- Increased Security
If a document accidentally finds its way to the trash or recycle bin instead of the shredder, you may be putting your business or your client’s business at risk. There have been many documented cases of criminals rummaging through trash to find information that they have used to commit identity theft, blackmail, and other criminal acts.
Addresses, names, financial records, and other sensitive information are common targets for these types of criminals.
A shred-all policy makes it virtually impossible for criminals to have a way to access any information they can use to commit these unjust acts.
- Time/Money Savings
If you have someone sorting through your documents to determine whether they should be destroyed or just thrown in the recycle bin, not only are you exposing a security threat, but you’re also investing valuable employee hours and wages in a task that can be eliminated by a shred-all policy.
The Right Way to Implement a Shred All Policy
As with any new policy, communication is key! Draft an official document that states what the shred it policy means for your employees and for the company as a whole. Other options include a full staff meeting and presentation to properly relay the importance and the why behind the shred all policy. You may want to even have employees and the management team sign off on the new shred all policy to ensure they are on board and have a full understanding.
Western Archive’s team of knowledgeable, experienced, and reputable staff are well-versed in the laws and governing privacy legislation in Canada. They have helped countless organizations protect themselves by facilitating the implementation of shred-all policies. From assisting with the policy-writing process to the physical shredding of documents, Western Archives is the best choice for businesses in the Edmonton Capital Region that want to get started with a shred-all policy. Contact them today to learn more!