July 6, 2004
Lawyer warns of pitfalls of using mobile phones
A leading UK employment lawyer warned yesterday of the potential dangers that both employers and employees face with the increasing use of company mobile phones for personal purposes, reports The Herald.
"While laws relating to the use and monitoring of e-mail and internet are already being developed, Ms Gunn - a partner and specialist employment lawyer at law firm Shepherd and Wedderbur - believes the use of mobile phones and, in particular, text messaging, exposes companies and their employees to new risks.
"Where mobile phones are owned and paid for by the employer, employees may find that their phonecalls and text messages could be monitored. Recent high profile cases demonstrate how easy it is to text yourself into trouble.
"Employees who use their work mobile phones for everything from arranging their weekend activities through to those indulging in illicit affairs may find that the digital trail could have a lasting impact on their career path."
While employers are being advised to adopt clear written guidelines to regulate the use of mobile phones, employees should be aware that sending a text can be as incriminating as sending a typed letter if it contains defamatory or otherwise illegal content.
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2004/07/004445.htm
| Tweet |
