Edinburgh Seminar

By Anna Kelpie

December 1, 2005

Scottish businesses seek guidance to help deal with compliance pressures

Edinburgh, December 2005. Huge interest was shown in an executive breakfast briefing organised by Baronscourt Technology on the legislation surrounding document retention and the need to communicate company policies to employees, which was held in the elegant surroundings of the Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh. Supported by EMC, this event saw subject matter specialists, led by Mr Paul Motion of Ledingham Chalmers Solicitors, provide the delegates with practical examples of how the law in Scotland places particular demands on organisations in relation to the retention of information and policy communication. Whilst pointing out that Scotland had its own legal system and rules of evidence, Mr Motion was able to plot trends for the audience in relation to court procedure and electronic search and disclosure. He then related these trends to the day-to-day workings of companies and organisations working in Scotland.

Also speaking at the event was Alex Purkiss from EMC. Focusing on the dangers inherent in the mismanagement of email in the workplace, Mr Purkiss said, " Email should be treated with the same respect as a paper memo; there is the same need to ensure the authenticity of the electronic record and to provide proper auditing practices to help remove doubt and potential liability".

The need to communicate the organisations compliance messages to its staff was discussed by Robert O'Brien from Baronscourt Technology. " Companies are becoming increasingly aware that placing an employee handbook on the intranet is tantamount to wishful thinking when it comes to best practice in organisational communication of compliance messages. Organisations need to demonstrate a repeatable process and provide an audit history of employee affirmation of company communications."

For further information:
Anna Kelpie
Baronscourt Technology®
Tel: +44 2871 268 261
Fax: +44 2871 308 885
Email: akelpie@eu-baronscourt.com

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