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magazine
08
agenda
BYOD a positive trend
Almost all organisations in the US
permit employee-owned devices to
be used in some way, shape or form
in the workplace according to a Cisco
IBSG Horizons Study of 600 U.S. IT and
business leaders.
Cisco found that 95% of respondents
supported the ‘bring your own device’
(BYOD) trend, with 84% providing a
degree of support and one third (36%)
providing full support for any device an
employee brings to work.
More than three quarters (76%)
viewed BYOD as being somewhat or
extremely positive for their companies,
giving employees more opportunities to
collaborate and greater job satisfaction.
Cisco IBSG estimates that the annual
benefits from BYOD range from $300
to $1,300 per worker, depending on an
employee’s job role.
Enthusiasm for BYOD is tempered
by awareness that it presents a growing
challenge for IT departments, as both the
average number of connected devices per
knowledge worker – due to rise from 2.8
in 2012 to 3.3 by 2014 – and the number
of unapproved software applications are
growing.
Two thirds (69%) of respondents said
that unapproved applications, especially
social networks, cloud-based email and
instant messaging, are somewhat to much
more prevalent today than two years ago.
Social media use in the workplace
‘endemic’ warns Croner
Employees’ use of social media in the workplace is
‘endemic’, warns Croner. A YouGov survey for the
workplace expert found that 15% of UK workers are
logging on at least once per hour during the working
day, with 6% doing so at least once every 20 minutes.
This, says senior employment consultant Amy Paxton,
poses a major challenge for employers.
“Traditionally employers have had a knee-jerk reaction
to social media, some wanting to dismiss employees for
gross misconduct. However, this could result in claims for
unfair dismissal,” she said.
She added: “When faced with such situations,
employers may also want to introduce a complete
ban on accessing social media sites.While this is an
understandable approach, employers need to consider the
potential benefits for their business if employees make
positive use of social media.”
She advises businesses to create a written policy for
social media, internet and email use stipulating what
employers can and can’t do.
This should:
n
Set out clear rules on the use of social media. If
appropriate, provide some positive guidelines on
responsible use;
n
Explain the aims of the policy, for example to protect a
valuable brand or the business’s reputation;
n
Provide clear guidance on what is acceptable in terms
of use within and outside working hours. There may
be different rules for out of hours behaviour but
some obligations (e.g. confidentiality and not making
discriminatory comments) may still apply;
n
Be binding on all employees, although rules may vary
depending on job roles;
n
Include a right to monitor employees’ communications.
This raises data protection issues so organisations
need to ensure that employees are made aware that
monitoring may take place and the extent of that
monitoring;
n
Be subject to regular review to ensure it is up to date;
and
n
Be monitored and disciplinary action taken, where
necessary, to ensure compliance.
iPad takes to the skies
The trend for paperless working isn’t
limited to offices. In Flybe’s case
it extends to the cockpit too. The
airline has expanded its contract with
Vistair to include electronic flight
operations manuals in addition to
the company’s cloud-based SafeyNet
safety management services. Electronic
manuals selected by Flybe’s flight
operations team can be accessed by
flight crew and ground staff equipped
with iPads.
UK firms failing to make
most of social media
UK firms’ social media activities are
failing to meet employees’ expectations,
Taleo Corporation warns following a
survey which found that more than
two thirds of the 1,000 office workers
questioned would like to see their
employers be more active online.
Six out of 10 respondents (61%) say
their company has a social networking
presence of some kind, e.g. LinkedIn,
Facebook or Twitter, but 37% would like
to receive more news from their employer
through this medium.
Just one in four thinks their employer
is making good use of the contacts and
relationships that they personally have
nurtured through social media.
The survey shows that employees, too,
are failing to use social networks for work
purposes, with just 10% using them to
discuss work with colleagues – half the
number that plan to use social media to
find a new job this year.
www.Taleo.com
Flybe’s Director of Flight Operations,
Ian Baston (left) with Ian Herbert,
Managing Director of Vistair
Start
hovering!
Twelve south claims that its HoverBar
makes the iPad more useful as an office
device by allowing you to interact with
your favourite apps
whilst working on
business applications
running on an
office computer. The
HoverBar is available
from the Apple store
and amazon from
£69.95.
iPad makes inroads
into SMEs
A Business Journal study in the US
found that over the last 12 months
iPad usage in SMEs has nearly
quadrupled from 9% in 2010 to 34%
in 2011.
Godfrey Phillips, Vice President
of Research at The Business Journals,
believes the success of the iPad is part
of a new phenomenon overtaking the
SMB market. “Our research has shown
that for SMB owners, productivity and
efficiency, which used to be the central
benefits of technology, are now declining
in importance compared to accessibility.
Now, it’s crucial that business owners
have access to their business information
and data, anytime and anywhere. The
iPad, as well as smartphones and cloud
computing, are all part of this new trend
and are experiencing significant growth
as a result of that need.”