Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on February 12, 2013. Also cited in 141 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000085685, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 21 Martinez, CA
Issue:
Wage and Tax statements W-2s for approximately 50 employees have been reported missing by Fiscal Service. W-2's were placed in the mailroom addressed to a specific person and department on 01/31/13. On 02/4/13 an employee reported that there were no W-2s in the mailroom for her department. Fiscal service has been searching for W-2s since and just reported the incident to the Privacy Officer (PO) this morning. Update: 02/15/13:The PO indicates that the W-2s have not been located as of 02/14/13. The facility is still searching for the W-2s.02/19/13:After a exhaustive search, the W-2s were not able to be located. The count has been revised to 40. Forty (40) employees will receive letters offering credit protection services.03/20/13:The count has been revised again, the total is now Fifty-one (51) employees.
Outcome:
Fiscal service updated their policy to include how W2s will be distributed in the future, provided training to all timekeepers on the process to provide the W2s to staff, W2s cannot no longer can be sent via intra office emails. Privacy officer sent an email to all staff explaining how to uses MyPay to turn off receiving paper W2s and Leave and Earning Statements.