The e-policy handbook

by Nancy Flynn (isbn: 978-0-8144-1065-3)\

You may consider this book review a bit boring but let me assure you if you have an online presence you need this book.

Each year possibly millions of emails travel through your business network (and not all of them work-related).  Your company (and you) can be left wide open to liability risks, security breaches, and productivity nosedives if you do not have a comprehensive e-policy program that combines written electronic rules with formal employee training supported by policy-based monitoring, management, and achieve tools. 

Sounds all too hard?  In 2006, it was reported that 24% of organisations had employee email subpoenaed, compared to just 9% in 2001.  Sure this is an American statistic but we are in a global society.  What this book emphasises is that no employer is immune from electronic risk, for example:

• If a former employee subpoenas company email in the course of a hostile work environment lawsuit, your business could face a lengthy and expensive search for messages, attachments, and other electronically stored information.
• If an employee uses Facebook, YouTube, or another social networking or video site to post racist or discriminatory content, your organisation could face negative publicity, a public backlash, or worse.
• If a distracted driver, engaged in a business-related cell phone conversation, crashes and kills someone, your business may be liable.

So what can you do?  Take the initiative and buy this book.  It will assist you in developing an e-policy that focuses on content and not so much on the technology tools.  As e-policy rule #2 suggest: You cannot afford to ignore new and emerging technology.  If you fail to provide the hot, must-have technologies of the day, chances are your tech-savvy employees will bring them in through the back door.  Left undetected and unmanaged, that’s a recipe for disaster!