Mobile Devices (Personal and Company)

 

Reasonable use of mobile phones for personal use is acceptable but you should remember that this is a place of business. In a working environment, phones should be switched to silent mode or a reduced volume, personal calls should be kept to a minimum, and private or confidential calls should be taken either outside or in appropriate private rooms. Employees are expected to conform to the spirit of this concession as abuse of this policy may mean that the privilege is withdrawn.

Where a mobile phone has been issued, it is primarily for business use, with sensible personal use allowed.  The phone at all times will remain the property of the Company.  A mobile phone is provided primarily to enable you to do your job – i.e. to keep the Company informed at the earliest opportunity of matters which it needs to know, and to be similarly contactable by the Company, or to contact customers or clients when you are working away from your base.  Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that the mobile phone is kept charged and switched on while you are on duty, and for you to use the mobile phone in a responsible and professional manner.

 

If you have been issued with a mobile phone, you are responsible for the safekeeping and condition of the mobile phone at all times.  You will be responsible for any cost of repair or replacement other than fair wear and tear.  The Company will arrange for any repair or replacement.  In the event that the mobile phone is lost/stolen, the Company (specifically, the IT department) must be notified immediately in order to cancel the number.  You agree that upon termination of your employment, should you not return your mobile phone or should your mobile phone be returned in an unsatisfactory condition, the cost of replacement (or a proportionate amount of this) as decided by the Company will be deducted from any final monies owing to you, or you will otherwise reimburse the Company.

 

In accordance with UK law all employees are expressly forbidden from operating non-hands-free telephones while driving on company business. If a business-related call is received whilst driving the call should be left unanswered until a safe and convenient point is reached, when the call should be returned. It is advised that whilst driving your phone should be switched to voicemail.

 

The Company recognises that you may have to make personal calls during working hours or outside normal working hours.  Where it is deemed that an unreasonable amount of personal calls/text messages have been made using the mobile phone, the Company reserves the right to deduct those costs, either through deduction from pay or otherwise as agreed.  The company may, after formal investigation, take action under the Disciplinary Procedure if such use is excessive.

 

Company respects the privacy of its employees; however to the extent that employees wish their private activities to remain private, they should avoid using company-provided devices for personal use. At the Company's reasonable discretion, Company-provided devices may be monitored and accessed at any point, and the devices’ contents disclosed, including for the purposes of assessing any reasonable suspicion by Company that use of the company-provided devices involves bullying, harassment, information security threats and any other violations of PCI Pal policies.

 

 

The Company will respect the privacy of your personal devices, and will only request access to a personal device used for work purposes to implement security controls or to respond to legitimate discovery requests arising out of administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings.

 

“Work purposes” is to be interpreted as downloading, viewing or working on company emails, attachments or documents, or messaging or calling contacts for work purposes.

 

Whilst Company access to personal devices is restricted, Company policies and rules of behaviour regarding the use/access of company email, documents and resources remain in effect, as do policies and rules regarding security, confidentiality, and conduct amongst others.

 

Upon using a personal device for work purposes as defined above, the employee;

 

Permission for use of personal devices for work purposes is at the Company’s sole discretion, and the Company may restrict or rescind these permissions if you do not respect the spirit of this policy. Violations of these rules may be grounds for disciplinary action up to and included dismissal.

 

If you cease using your personal device for work purposes (either voluntarily or as a result of permissions being restricted or rescinded), you will allow the Company’s IT department to remove and disable any company-provided software, services and files from your device.