{"id":172547,"date":"2022-07-22T02:19:07","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T01:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=172547"},"modified":"2022-07-26T09:02:49","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T08:02:49","slug":"electronic-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/electronic-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Include in an Electronic Communications Policy in England"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As we are now working in a time where electronic communications are part of our everyday life, it is essential that you put in place workplace policies that manage your employees\u2019 use of electronic communications. Your staff will likely use various communications technology to fulfil their job responsibilities, such as the telephone or email. Therefore, your employees need to know what they can and cannot do when communicating electronically. In this instance, you can use a workplace policy to ensure you cover your legal requirements<\/a> regarding data protection laws. This article explains what you should include in your electronic communications policy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an Electronic Communications Policy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An electronic communications policy is a guideline that sets out how your staff can use technology in the workplace. Your policy should be sufficient to cover data protection law requirements and give clear examples of ways to use and not to use technology. When your team understands what you expect, they can often work more effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

As with any workplace policy, you should ensure that you communicate your policy clearly. Additionally, you should publish your workplace policy in a place where staff can easily access it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Key Points to Include in an Electronic Communications Policy<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are some critical pieces of information your policy should contain. In addition to basics such as who enforces the policy and who the policy applies to, your policy may contain the following provisions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Purpose of the Policy <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is a good idea to clarify the purpose of your policy from the outset. You may begin by clarifying why your staff need to access technology and state that the policy is not an exclusive list of all situations. You may state what the policy will explain, including what actions you take when your staff do not abide by it. This way, your employees can better understand why the policy is in place. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use of Communications Systems for Private Communications <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your policy should clarify how and when your staff may use technology for personal discussions. It could be as flexible or as detailed as you see fit. For example, your policy may clarify email size limits to clients or telephone numbers that can and cannot be accessed, such as overseas numbers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detailing how your staff can use your communications systems for personal use also applies to your:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n