HRIS / Technology

Employees bringing their smartphones to work? 6 ways to manage the legal risks

07/09/2012

Employees’ use of personal smartphones (and tablets such as iPads) raises risks not present when employees use company-issued devices. Advice: Take these six steps before allowing employees to use their personal e-tools for work.

A ‘sledgehammer’ to social media policies

06/22/2012

Even if you included a new social media policy in your employee handbook recently, it’s time to review it again. The NLRB issued a report recently that called into question the legality of some of the wording employers commonly use in their social media policies.

New scrutiny may change the way employers access social media

06/08/2012

Before you plunge into cyberspace in search of information on applicants (or current employees), understand the legal implications. Employers’ efforts to access employees’ and applicants’ private social media websites have recently been subject to increased scrutiny by New York and federal legislators.

Congress considers ‘Facebook password’ bill

05/31/2012

Media reports speculating that a handful of employers asked employees for their social-media passwords has led Congress to consider legislation that would make it illegal for employers to request employees’ (or applicants’) passwords.

Ensure email policy spells out access rules

05/18/2012

When it comes to securing employees’ email accounts against internal hacking, leave nothing to chance. Make it clear that you forbid employees from illegitimately accessing co-workers’ email—and that it’s grounds for dismissal.

‘Where do I find Elvis videos?’ and other IT inquiries

05/09/2012

Consulting firm Robert Half asked CIOs for the strangest employee requests they’ve received in their IT departments. Among the weirdest: “Can I turn the coffee pot on with my computer?”

An app for that: Applicants at Sodexo phone in their résumés

04/25/2012

Candidates can apply for jobs at Sodexo through an app on their smartphones. The new jobs app allows would-be employees to search and apply for Sodexo jobs in the United States by keyword, discipline or location.

Federal computer law doesn’t cover misuse of trade secrets

04/12/2012

The federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) doesn’t grant employers any legal recourse if an employee misuses information obtained from company computers, according to a recent Minnesota Federal District Court ruling.

Social media at work: Necessary, annoying or both?

04/05/2012

A recent poll by staffing firm Manpower asked HR professionals what one word they’d use to describe social media in today’s workplace. The most frequent response? Necessary.

Warn managers: That snarky email may be the smoking-gun evidence that loses a lawsuit

03/22/2012

It used to be that managers picked up the phone when seeking HR’s input on how to handle an employee problem. These days, they send an email. That can spell big trouble. Email, unlike a phone conversation, leaves a perfect record of what transpired. And courts don’t hesitate to use email as evidence.