Research shows temps put business at risk

Nearly half of UK companies are putting their business under threat of legal action by employing temporary staff who may abuse their IT systems.

A poll carried out by FAST Corporate Services indicates that 45 per cent of the UK business community is vulnerable, as they do not require temps to sign the same IT policies and procedures as permanent staff. This would help them to control use of the Internet, email and company network as well as state what is acceptable behaviour.

If employees or temporary staff are found to be downloading pornography, materials subject to Copyright or spreading defamatory remarks, the organisation may fall victim to legal action. Equally, unauthorised software downloads mean that directors could face up to ten years behind bars under the principle of vicarious liability.

While an out-of-court settlement is often reached between defendants and software publishers, this is still very costly to the business - causing damage to the bottom line and the companyís reputation.

Whilst we recognise that temps are no more likely to abuse the company systems than any other employee, they are no less likely either, said Geoff Webster, chief executive officer at FAST Corporate Services.

In order to protect the company and its directors, every employee that has access to company PCs should be made to sign a document outlining policies and procedures like anybody else - itís as simple as that, he added. The HR department should ensure it works with the IT department to facilitate this.