Legal experts evaluate the Boundaries of Big Brother for employers

18th June 2012

Members of the employment team at Sheffield law firm Wake Smith LLP are gearing up for the next free HR Club event (27th June), helping employers to understand the legal parameters for monitoring staff in the workplace.

The event, part of the HR Club series, will outline legal rights employers have to monitor email, phone activity and internet histories providing adequate warning is given. Glenn Jaques partner in the employment team at Wake Smith LLP will be discussing employee monitoring and surveillance, -Many employers are choosing to monitor staff activities; this can be to check on the quality or quantity of work produced and also to cover compliance with policies and procedures and any legal requirements in the work place. -Around 60% of corporations are expected to put in place formal programs for monitoring external social media for security breaches and incidents by 2015i. With so many different methods of employee surveillance available now it can be difficult to know the legal implications of monitoring your employee's activities. The event will cover the types of policies and procedures which should be in place to permit the monitoring and surveillance of employees in the work place. Also on the agenda, employment partners will look at the challenges of rewarding employees in tough economic times. The team will discuss how variations in contracts of employment may be applied when pay rises or bonuses are no longer a financially viable method. Head of the employment team at Wake Smith LLP Mark Serby will discuss the legal implications in variations to employment contracts, giving practical guidance on what to do if an employee or employer is considering amending an existing employment contract. The event is open to HR managers and anyone involved in the personnel management and will be hosted at Wake Smith's offices at 68 Clarkhouse Road on the 27th of June at 4PM. The event is free entry, to register your attendance please contact Deena Samachetty at Wake Smith LLP on 0114 2666660 or deena.samachetty@wake-smith.com. To find out more about Wake Smith LLP, contact us on 0114 266 6660 or visit www.wake-smith.co.uk.