With the rise of remote working arrangements, the ability to
keep confidential or sensitive company files secure is a new
challenge for employers and their workers to navigate.
Many employees now work from their living rooms and kitchen
tables using both devices provided by their employer and personal
devices to send emails, access and edit documents or join virtual
meetings. While none of these actions sound like particularly risky
activities, if deemed a breach of company policy, they could give
rise to disciplinary action or even dismissal.
"Highly inappropriate and seriously improper"
conduct
A Queensland employee recently argued their dismissal on the
grounds of misconduct for downloading confidential files to a
personal device was unfair because of the absence of protocols and
processes regarding accessing and storing documents remotely and
the challenges of working from home, such as network outages, and
reliance on desktops and USBs to save and access
