Many of you are probably wondering what is meant by a BYOD. It is probable that some of you suspected it had to do with a customer bringing their own bottle into the business premises. Actually it is a good idea to have a policy prohibiting someone from bringing their own spirits into you establishment.

  However, BYOD means Bring Your Own Device and it relates to employees bringing and using their own computer, smart phone or other device in to an employer’s business. This subject is of tremendous current interest in the legal community. The following are some of the considerations related to BYOD:

1.      Should an employer prohibit employees from BYOD?

2.      If BYOD is permitted should an employer allow the employee to join the employer’s systems?

3.      If an employee is permitted to join and use the employers system, should there be restrictions?

4.      What type of restrictions should be imposed?

5.      Should an employer allow the use of social media on its systems by employees that BYOD?

6.      Should the employer develop a BYOD plan and how should it be communicated to employees?

  The purpose of this article is to introduce this topic to industry members that are not aware of the potential problems related to BYOD. This topic will be reviewed from time to time in this column.