| We all know that in a given day at work, there are | | | | confetti-cut, diamond-cut or micro-cut) offer a more |
| usually more tasks to be done than there is time to | | | | secure shred and a lower volume of waste although |
| complete them. No one wants to add yet another task | | | | they tend to require more maintenance and may be |
| to the daily routine unless the task is going to improve | | | | more expensive. Strip-cut shredders (also known as |
| business and enhance productivity. While paper | | | | straight-cut or spaghetti-cut) generate more waste |
| shredding does not seem like a business builder, it sure | | | | and are less secure although they may be less costly |
| can save time and money for businesses who do not | | | | to purchase and maintain. |
| want to end up in court or on the news. | | | | In addition to these compelling legal reasons for |
| In June 2005, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction | | | | equipping your office with a shredder, paper shredders |
| Act went into effect requiring all businesses (even the | | | | also enhance productivity. Instead of employees having |
| tiny ones) to destroy customer data and records | | | | to worry about how to protect sensitive information |
| when they are no longer needed. This law is enforced | | | | that is no longer needed and wasting time seeking |
| by the Federal Trade Commission and was enacted | | | | direction from their supervisors, employees can simply |
| to help protect people against identity theft. The law | | | | shred the documents and be done with it. Paper |
| indicates that any individual or business who | | | | shredding also helps to maximize storage space |
| "possesses consumer information for a business | | | | around the office. When employees are through with |
| purpose must properly dispose of such information by | | | | documents, they can be shredded and disposed of |
| taking reasonable measures to protect against | | | | instead of stacked up in dusty storage rooms. |
| unauthorized access to or use of the information in | | | | Paper shredders protect more than your clients and |
| connection with its disposal." Companies who do not | | | | employees; they also protect you. You can use your |
| properly destroy sensitive customer information are | | | | paper shredder to destroy records and |
| subject to up to $2500 in fines per violation, up to | | | | communications you do not want others to see. |
| $1000 in statutory damages per employee, actual | | | | Seeing your sensitive materials in the wrong hands can |
| damages if employee records are compromised, and | | | | be embarrassing and costly. Given the alternative, a |
| class action lawsuits brought against them by | | | | paper shredder is a meaningful investment. While you |
| customers or employees. In accordance with the law, | | | | may be concerned about the price of a paper |
| customer records may be destroyed by burning or | | | | shredder, the knowledge that your employee records |
| shredding. Burning is not a practical solution for most | | | | and customer information are protected is worth |
| business owners, so shredding is by far the more | | | | every penny. No one wants to end up in court trying to |
| logical and convenient choice. | | | | explain how or why confidential data were |
| Paper shredders come in two basic styles, cross-cut | | | | compromised. |
| and strip-cut. Cross-cut shredders (also known as | | | | |