What to do, If You use Your Personal Device for Work Purposes

So, here’s the deal - we’re in a modern world and whether we like it or not, chances are mobile phone or personal device usage for work purposes is here to stay.

Backup key information on your personal device

So, with this in mind, if you’ve opted to bring and use your own device: laptop, mobile or other for work purposes, back-up any personal or key information, somewhere local and for you and your records only. 

I cannot scream this at the top of your lungs enough. 

If anything happens, you have to leave suddenly, you get fired or are under investigation and your assets or software access is frozen - you want to be able to have access to some of that key info, before varied app logins etc get taken away with no notice. Try to get into the habit of keeping an offline or separate folder of info you might need, and periodically back this up! If you’re feeling nervous on starting with a new company and whether you should opt to use your personal device or one they supply, ask to see their “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy and if they don’t have one - ask any questions you may have in writing, to force a written a response. 

Empowering YOU: A Personal Device Policy Guideline

At a minimum a Device Policy really should close off on:

1. Local Employment Law, eg Compliance with the Fair Work Act. The policy should clearly communicate that additional hours spent on device, eg. answering emails/logging into conferences etc outside of typical working hours - are not encouraged or signed off on/approved by the business.
2. Liability for Employee actions while they’re using their personal devices, think cyber bullying or sexual harassment and the extent a company is liable for this.
3. Data breach Notifications, think lost and stolen phones and what a stranger could or could not get access to. If you can download company identifiable info to your device, is it encrypted and if not is this a data breach. Best practice usually makes info only accessible via a browser or company portal page.
4. Legal Discovery - if litigation arises, the information held on personal devices may be subject to discovery. If a company becomes a participant in some court action, the personal data of employees may be inadvertently exposed, potentially violating that individual's privacy rights.
5. Privacy Issues: Mobile Device Management software allows a company to manage the information stored on a worker's phone, and remotely destroy it if necessary. However, in some instances employees' personal information, such as photos, text messages, and emails, have also been removed from the device. So again, back this up personally.

Make this advantageous to you!

And…

Here’s something key to remember: both employers and employees may take advantage of this BYOD situation to the detriment of each other, and of course, there will be higher risks of lawsuits. It’s something worth considering carefully. Similar issues exist in the “Bring your own social media” (BYOS) world - that employers are increasingly asking e.g. Marketing, Recruitment and Sales folks, to do.

You won’t regret it! For more information, book a consult to find out more or get your customised policy created today!

Here’s to an empowered you!