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Using personal mobile devices in the workplace

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Using personal mobile devices in the workplace

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A recent survey showed that 60% of the UK population now own a smart phone and 20% own a tablet and an increasing number want to use their personal devices at work. Known as ‘bring your own device’, studies indicate that the benefits to business of allowing BYOD include increased efficiency, flexibility and employee morale, but the practice also carries a number of risks which employers must consider when allowing employees’ devices to be used to process work-related data.

We recommend that clients should have a clear ‘personal device at work’ policy for their staff.

F&L’s Kiki Stannard explained “The perceived benefits must be balanced against the potential risks to both employee and employer. For example, allowing employees to use their own mobile telephone for business purposes and then reimbursing them can cause tax reporting difficulties anyway, let alone the level of effort which may be required to ensure that the processing of personal data with BYOD remains compliant with all 8 Principles of the Data Protection Act. Remember, it is the employer who is held liable for any breaches under the DPA.”

F&L

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