You're the HR manager for Southern Bend Inc., a company that provides technology services for public, private, and non-profit organizations. You come into the office and find an email from a director in one of the departments you service.

Hi,

You may not remember me; we met Monday when you were being introduced around on your first day at work. I'm in the Southern Bend Support section.

Here's the problem: I received an email from the head of my department that she met with the president the other day and they were discussing an article about "business communication." My boss indicated that everyone will need to have wireless handheld devices or cell phones depending upon whether we have international or nationwide clients. That way we can all "communicate" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It is my understanding that we will also have to buy the handheld devices ourselves and pay for the service.

This sounds crazy! Can the president MAKE us do that? I know that my staff will get very upset about this. They are all working very hard and I do not want to distract them with things like this.

Is there anything we can do about it?

Please get back to me as soon as possible!

Thanks,

Cheryl Stanton

What do you think? Use this poll to share your opinion about whether or not the president of Southern Bend can make employees purchase and pay for a service for handheld devices to "communicate" with clients and others 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Be prepared to discuss the results of this poll in the "Discussion of Layers of Employee Rights" at the end of this topic. Come back to view the results before you participate in this required discussion.

Question: Can the president of the company require that all employees buy a cell phone or wireless device and pay for the service?

Question: Do you think this action is legal?