How to track field staff phones legally and responsibly

Start with a clear purpose

Location tracking should answer a specific business need: safety for lone workers, proof of visits, route planning, finding a lost device. Write the purpose down. If you cannot explain in one sentence why you need the location, you probably need less of it than you think.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws on employee monitoring and personal data differ by country and sometimes by state, so confirm the position with a qualified adviser before you start.

Use company-owned devices

Tracking a company phone used for work is easier to justify than tracking an employee's own phone. A personal phone carries personal life, and full management usually needs a reset the owner will not accept. Issue a work device and keep it for work. BYOD versus school-owned devices covers the same ownership trade-off.

Good practice checklist

• Tell staff before tracking starts, in writing, in plain language
• State what is collected, when, who can see it and how long it is kept
• Limit tracking to work hours and work devices
• Do not hide it: staff should be able to tell the device is managed
• Restrict access to the people who need it, using roles
• Do not use location data for purposes you did not state
• Review the policy regularly and let staff raise concerns
• Keep a record of consent where your local rules call for it

What responsible tracking looks like in practice

What Skie provides

Skie is Android device management software for parents, schools, hostels and organisations. For field teams it offers live location, a request for a fresh location, geofences that can attach to a group, a go-to directions button and background location. The device shows that it is managed, and there is no hidden mode. Skie does not read messages or call logs and does not record audio or video.

Location tracking needs clear consent and a written policy. Skie provides controls. The organisation provides the notices. Skie does not make anyone compliant with a particular law.

Limits to be aware of

Skie does not give a number for location accuracy, and the result depends on the device and conditions. Email alerts and parent or manager notification of alerts are not available yet, so alerts are seen in the dashboard. Remote screen view is not available yet either. The team is working on these.

For the broader field-team setup, read Android MDM for field teams and Android MDM for logistics fleets.

Talk to your staff first

Employees accept tracking more easily when they see a benefit and a limit. A lone worker who knows the company can find them if something goes wrong sees a safety feature. A worker who suspects constant surveillance sees a threat. Hold a short briefing, show the policy and answer questions before you switch anything on.

Frequently asked questions