If you are a current or past employee of Kroger, you may not know that Kroger sends your private payroll data to Equifax in exchange for services, all without your explicit consent. 

Why is this a problem? 

●      Identity Theft

In addition to the mass data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people, Equifax has a track record of numerous payroll data breaches that have put tens of millions of workers’ payroll data at risk, including Kroger, causing workers to suffer from identity theft. 

●      Higher Cost to Consumers

The exclusive sharing of data by Kroger also forces workers to pay up to $100 of extra fees for their own data when applying for loans or mortgages because Equifax can demand their near-monopoly price. 

●      Amplification of Social Inequality

Once Equifax has the data, workers cannot opt-out, and even employers could lose control of how Equifax uses their workers’ data. For example, has Kroger ever authorized Equifax to use its workers’ data to build a “360 View of Consumers,” a practice that amplifies social and economic inequalities? Losing a job may cause a downgrade in a worker’s credit score, which makes their access to credit more difficult and expensive, and default more likely. As a result, individuals can be thrust into a downward spiral when they are most vulnerable. 

●      Poor Customer Service

Meanwhile, if workers need any assistance, such as data corrections, they are consistently treated with the worst customer service because workers are not a data broker’s customers. Worker data is simply a product they can sell over and over again.

Tell Kroger to stop sharing your payroll data with Equifax or other data brokers in exchange for services. Workers do not deserve the stress, risk, and financial loss this practice creates. Kroger is responsible for getting your explicit consent before sharing your private data.