Needless requests by customers to obtain delivery workers’ personal details

Working in the logistics field, I have recently seen many more customers demanding to see or take down our delivery workers’ names, identity card numbers and dates of birth.

Although I understand and appreciate that customers are concerned about security and safety, is such information really necessary for the establishment to afford access to people visiting such places simply for the purpose of work?

These customers do not give the undertaking that the workers’ personal data given to them will be protected.

Do we need to give advance notice before visiting an establishment? Wouldn’t the worker’s name and company pass be sufficient for identification purposes?

The worker’s personal particulars are known to the employer, and should be held in confidence by the employer only. The customer is dealing with the service provider on a business level, and at no point should the worker’s personal particulars come into the transaction. The customer can always verify the visitor’s details against the worker’s company pass and its photo ID, and the appointment made.

I hope that the Personal Data Protection Act can be tweaked further so that personal information will not be circulated to businesses in this way.