"Bring Your Own Device" Programs Create A Nest Of Policy Issues

There is a new trend in the workplace: the bring your own device (BYOD) program. An employer permits employees to use their own laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. to connect to company servers and access company information. For an employer, a BYOD program may reduce expenses, as it obviates the need to purchase and maintain some expensive company-issued devices. It also can increase productivity, as employees will gain access to company information, including emails, from virtually anywhere at anytime. 

But it also brings potential legal challenges for employers, in such areas as privacy, wage-and-hour issues and trade secrets, and the need to address some critical policy issues.