A couple of posts ago I wrote about TJX Companies (the operator of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and a number of other retail chains) and its decision to fire an employee for allegedly disclosing confidential information. Nick Benson, an employee at the TJ Maxx outlet in Lawrence, Kansas, had complained to management that coworkers could access company servers using blank passwords and began voicing his concerns on the Internet. Benson denies he disclosed confidential company information and says he was wrongly fired. He has yet to assert legal protection as a whistleblower. Interestingly, prior to his disclosures, the central servers at TJ Maxx had been hacked and credit card information of over 94 million customers had been potentially compromised. TJX quickly contacted those customers and offered them compensation.

Since my post, I have been able to obtain a copy of the TJX claim form “to be used by claimants for merchandise vouchers/checks-in-lieu”. TJX’s settlement offer of merchandise in lieu of cash is restricted to one claim per household and all claims must be submitted no later than October 13, 2008. Other restrictions apply as well (see form). Claimants who meet the requirements of the offer will be provided a store credit of $30 against any merchandise purchase at a TJX store. For more information about filing a claim go to www.TJXsettlement.com.