FEATURE Driven to distraction
With the cost of cellphones and BlackBerrys becoming more reasonable, companies are doling out these wireless devices to employees like candy. However, studies show that using such wireless devices on the road can become a dangerous distraction to employees and a liability for employers.
By Helen Burnett B
lackBerrys and cellphones are becoming essential to the work of many employees across the country, and several Canadian companies and their in-house
counsel have been actively creating and updating the policies affecting their em- ployees' use of wireless devices — espe- cially while on the road. While some provinces have addressed
the issue — with Newfoundland having instituted a law banning the use of cell- phones while driving in 2003, and Que- bec recently passing legislation that will make it an offence to drive while speak- ing on a hand-held cellphone — Canadi- an companies across different industries are also responding to both the increased
C ANADIAN Lawyer INHOUSE APRIL 2008 17
