Multiple Generations at Work

What will be an ideal response?

Bring Your Own Device to Work (BYOD)



Many employees view their mobile devices as indispensable tools for both fun and work activities. According to Cheryl Tang, a senior manager for Symantec: "Today, work is no longer a place I go to, it's something I do." Organizations are adjusting to the changing times: nearly two-thirds of firms allow employees to use personal smartphones and tablets for work-related activities. VMware, a cloud-computing software company, has taken the next step by requiring all 6,000 employees in the United States to use personal smartphones for work.



As with so many things, both advantages and disadvantages come from allowing employees to use their own devices for work.



A related trend known as "bring your own app" (BYOA) is when employees use their own applications for work-related purposes. For example, employees may find that transferring large files via Dropbox is faster and easier than using their company e-mail accounts. Though good for employee morale and innovation, unsecured devices and applications are vulnerable to security threats like hacking, lost data, or theft of the device.



Employee attitudes toward security matter, too. A recent study found that 70 percent of Millennials "admitted to bringing outside applications into the enterprise in violation of IT policies, compared to just 31 percent of Baby Boomers."



Mobile devices and boundaryless work are here to stay. A major goal for managers will continue to be how to balance employee independence and innovation with effective security policies.