How may an employer limit liability for invasion of privacy claims arising from remote wipes of employees’ personal cell phones? Explain.
While some employers provide employees with a cell phone or tablet for work use, others may encourage use of employees’ own personal devices, known as “bring your own device (BYOD).” According to a 2013 survey, approximately one-fifth of employers may perform “remote wipes” of employees’ devices such as cell phones during or after employment as a means of securing data. This practice results in employees losing photos, contact lists, and other personal data. Employees who are asked to BYOD face the dilemma of either risking the loss of personal information when a cell phone is erased, or appearing to be not committed to their jobs for refusing to use a personal device to stay electronically connected to work.