Final answer:
As the HR professional, you should explain to Pete the reasons for keeping his Social Security number on file.
Step-by-step explanation:
As the HR professional, you should explain to Pete the reasons for keeping his Social Security number on file. While it is understandable that Pete is concerned about the security of his personal information, there are certain legal and practical reasons why the company needs to keep his Social Security number.
One of these reasons is tax reporting. Companies are required by law to provide accurate employee information for tax purposes, and the Social Security number is an important piece of identification for this purpose. Additionally, the company may need to keep the Social Security number for census reporting.