Work are very keen to get smart devices issued to senior staff. We are seeing Microsoft Surface devices, Apple Ipads and Iphones being issued to staff (not all three at once I might add - you get a choice).
Our team have been selected to get a device (Iphone) because we visit customers I need access to emails.
I would like to know if the company can track the devices and therefore the users or do they need to state that they are doing so?
|
|
GCHQ can - allegedly that's how the two "droned" terrorists were tracked - they phoned a friend (in the UK!).
|
Absolutely the company can track the mobiles. You don't need GCHQ expertise, I track my daughters'.
I am not sure if the company has to volunteer that they will track the phones, but they certainly have to tell you if you ask.
It is not just tracking, its also usage. They can tell when the device is on and what the device is doing.
Also these does it does not require a smart phone. Obviously most accurate with a GPS enabled phone, but it can be done simply using the mobile network.
However, I would doubt that they are actually intending to. There are various challenges which make "spying" impractical as an employer.
|
>> However, I would doubt that they are actually intending to. There are various challenges which
>> make "spying" impractical as an employer.
You have to ask yourself "why would they do it"? It would cost money and effort, and what is the benefit?
|
I have a friend who works in HR.
They have been known to use mobile phone/van sat-nav GPS data in disciplinary investigations.
They do not routinely 'spy' however.
Vaguely similar to 'spying' we run searches from time to time to ensure there has been no unnecessary access to patients' medical records.
|
I was told by an employee of a nationwide organisation that his journey routes in the company vehicle between customer visits are routinely tracked, resulting in questions if he deviates from a 'normal' route corridor.
Whether this is actually true, or just used as a 'reminder' to mobile staff that it can be done, I am not sure.
|
A delivery man told me that. He arrived 10 minutes earlier than his system allowed, so wasn't permitted to hand over the the package and go. So he came in for a cup of coffee and we chatted about his employer's tracking device.
The pad thing we sign reports exactly where he is. I said, you mean they will know you are in our kitchen having coffee? No, it will assume he is in the van.
|
Our iPads can be tracked but we have the option to turn off the feature if we want. I did sign quite a complicated usage agreement when I collected the loathsome thing, but to summarise: "Don't use our data connection to download porn or illegal movies. Otherwise consider it yours."
Although it's connected to their mobile device management server, we've been assured that they cannot see user installed apps, documents, or photos. Not that I care either way.
|
As the device belongs to your employer, they can pretty much do whatever they like.
With BYOD (bring your own device) is gradually becoming preferred option in many work places, I wonder what will happen when an employer discovers that at employee's laptop contain a sensitive document but they can't delete because they don't own the device!
|
>> As the device belongs to your employer, they can pretty much do whatever they like.
...although they have to tell you what that is, albeit somewhere in the small print, don't they?
|
>> www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/monitoring-at-work/
Thanks. Extract:
Except in extremely limited circumstances, employers must take reasonable steps to let staff know that monitoring is happening, what is being monitored and why it is necessary.
Employers who can justify monitoring once they have carried out a proper impact assessment will usually not need the consent of individual members of staff.
Last edited by: Focusless on Wed 16 Sep 15 at 11:51
|
|
There will be a Mobile Device Policy or similar, which will lay out what the employer will and will not do. Ours - to which I had to sign up to get the corporate mobile email client - provides for wiping the phone of all data if it's lost or stolen but says nothing about collecting or using location information. Without that, they'd be on thin legal ice if they tried to use that information against me for disciplinary purposes.
|
|
I had a hand in implementing BYOD in a major bank. Once logged on, your entire environment was ring fenced from your local machine - you couldn't use printers or any other attached devices, nor could you move files onto your own media. This was a VDI solution which I guess would be the way many companies will go - your session was contained within a browser window.
|
The good thing about that if you can provide a valid explanation of not having network connectivity (e.g. no WiFi in train etc.) you get a paid holiday :o)
|
Can Employers Track Mobiles - Roger.
