E-mail & Phones


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E-mail & Phones

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Electronic Monitoring
E-mail / Internet
Telephones

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IRS issues guidance on tax treatment of employee cell phones
November 2011
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued guidance clarifying the tax treatment of cell phones used by employees. The guidance explains that when employers provide cell phones to their employees, . . . more

Survey suggests workplace communication will move to real-time tools
October 2011
A survey conducted by Robert Half Technology indicates that email could soon become the new snail mail. The company interviewed more than 1,400 chief information officers from employers across the United States with 100 or more employees. More than half (54 percent) said . . . more

Intellectual Property: Unauthorized Computer Access Can Be a Crime; Protect Your Proprietary Data with a Computer Use Policy
July 2011
You're probably well aware of the essential role that computer use policies can play in deterring employees from frittering away their time on the clock on nonwork-related activities. But did you know these policies can also help you protect your intellectual property, including trade secrets and other proprietary information? . . . more

Email: Messages Sent to Attorney Weren't 'Privileged'; How Your Policies Can Defeat Workers' Confidentiality Claims
April 2011
There are plenty of good reasons to develop policies for employee use of your technology resources, but one might not have occurred to you--the policies could give you access to critical evidence to defend against an employee lawsuit. . . . more

Sample Social Media Code of Conduct
CEA Online Exclusive February 2011
Intra-Company Media: XYZ Inc. maintains a [blog/Twitter feed/Facebook page/MySpace page] or other "social media" to facilitate internal company communications. The company's social media are the property of the company and [can/cannot] be seen by the general public, including the company's customers and business associates. The company's social media are part of the company's image, and the company's business conduct and computer use policies should be followed for all social media communications. . . . more

Social Media: NLRB Rules That Facebook Postings Are Protected; Time to Review Your Social Media Policies
February 2011
Do you use social media? Odds are, your employees do. At the end of 2010, Facebook boasted more than 500 million active users, and Twitter ranked in the top 10 most-visited sites in the United States. Your workers could be using these widely read outlets to post racy photos and videos, write harsh or profanity-laden blogs, or criticize your company and supervisors. . . . more

Bulletin: U.S. Supreme Court decides text message case
July 2010
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued its decision in City of Ontario v. Quon. The police department in the California city had reviewed its officers' pager usage after several officers exceeded their allotted monthly limits, resulting in . . . more

Recordkeeping: Does Communicating with Employees via Text Messages Undermine Your Recordkeeping?
March 2010
In the age of iPhones, BlackBerries, and similar devices, text messaging is becoming as ubiquitous in the workplace as it is everywhere else. More and more, as employees work from home, the road, and coffee shops as well as on location with customers, text messaging is now part of the way we work. As an employer, though, are you at risk of dropping the ball on essential recordkeeping because vital communications are transmitted on phones--often personal phones that don't belong to the company? . . . more

Bulletin: U.S. Supreme Court to decide text message case
February 2010
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this spring in City of Ontario v. Quon to determine whether the California city violated an officer's privacy rights by reading . . . more

Social Media Code of Conduct for Employees and Companies That Twitter, Blog, and Use Social Networks
CEA Online Exclusive September 2009
Maintaining business ethics and policing company codes of conduct are getting harder as electronic communication becomes more varied and more widely accessible. This customizable sample policy is intended to supplement your company's existing computer use and antidiscrimination policies, addressing the unique issues that . . . more

New Media: Blogging, Twittering, and Social Networking--Are Your Technology Use Policies Keeping Up With the Times?
September 2009
You know you have to update your company policies when there are major shifts in the law. If benefit rules change or a new company procedure is introduced, updating the employee handbook is on the to-do list. But what about keeping pace with the rapidly changing techie landscape? Does your company's employee handbook have . . . more

Sample Policy: Personal Phone Calls
Updated February 2012

Personal calls of short duration may be received and made at your desk or workstation, and whenever possible should occur during designated break times. Personal telephone call privileges are subject to change or termination at any time. . . . more

Sample Policy: Voice Mail, Email, Electronic and Computer Files, and Usage
Updated February 2012

XYZ, Inc. maintains voice mail, electronic mail, and text messaging systems to assist in conducting business within the company. XYZ's computers, telephones, and other electronic devices and the data stored on them are and remain at all times XYZ's property. All messages . . . more

Safety: Governor Signs Law Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving; Update Your Policies
December 2008
On July 1, 2008, Californians had to put down their cell phones while driving. Come Jan. 1, 2009, the law will expand, barring text messaging, emailing, and instant messaging while driving. The new, stricter provisions were signed into law last month, adding California to the short list of states, including Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington, that have banned texting while driving. Here's an overview of what employers need to know about the new requirements. . . . more

Privacy: Important New Decision Underscores Need for Computer and Electronic Monitoring Policies to Be Broad Enough to Include All Current Technologies
September 2008
An important new Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling expands employee privacy rights in electronic communications. . . . more

Sample Policy: Social Media Code of Conduct
Updated February 2012

Intra-Company Media: XYZ, Inc. maintains a [blog/Twitter feed/Facebook page/MySpace page] or other "social media" to facilitate internal company communications. The company's social media are the property of the company and [can/cannot] be seen by the general public, including the company's customers and business associates. The company's social media are part of the company's image, and the company's business conduct and computer use policies should be followed for all social media communications. . . . more

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