Blurred Lines: Mobile Devices In The Workplace

As smartphones become increasingly common in the workplace, many employers are recognizing the difficulty of attempting to draw a clear line between a "work device" and a "personal device." Employers have adapted to this issue in different ways. Some employers permit employees to use their own mobile device to access the employer's corporate networks and systems (commonly referred to as "Bring Your Own Device" or "BYOD"). Other employers provide employees with mobile devices that contain pre-installed software allowing for the creation of a "personal" profile that is kept separate from the "work" profile. Even in cases where an employer does not specifically address the issue, it is often implicitly recognized that an employee who is carrying a mobile device with them for work purposes will engage in some personal activities on that device, whether that means surfing the internet, checking personal email accounts or using the map function.