Mobile phone use in the workplace
Discussion
In my office I keep a fairly relaxed stance on it - so long as it doesn't affect the work I'm not bothered, not least because I feel less bad about making personal calls myself that way - but in a factory with all the possibility of grizzly death that that entails I'd be inclined to take a harsher line.
Perhaps set aside a "safe zone" for using phones in? You'll be easily able to spot piss-takers that way too...
Perhaps set aside a "safe zone" for using phones in? You'll be easily able to spot piss-takers that way too...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You obviously know very little when it comes to industry. The safest way for everyone is to leave the phones in the locker then they can be used during breaks. If it's an emergency staff can still be contacted via the switchboard.Unfortunately the buck stops at the top when it comes to safety. There is absolutely no need for personal phones on the shop flor.
I work in an office where you are treated like an adult rather than a mule, so using a phone is perfectly acceptable. The other side of that is that the employees respect this and don't abuse it.
I'd just have a quiet word with anyone over using it before you go overboard putting rules and bans in place.
I'd just have a quiet word with anyone over using it before you go overboard putting rules and bans in place.
WinstonWolf said:
bogie said:
Wow, what was it like before the world of mobile phones? how fast we seem to have adopted the need for people to be able to talk to us at any moment of day or night
I like it when i go somewhere with no signal, I can get some peace from work
I like it when i go somewhere with no signal, I can get some peace from work
Being off the grid is lovely 
http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_kp105-2390.php
no internet, no camera, no bluetooth
its just a phone.
I really wouldn't know how you control it in an office environment other than searching people to make sure they don't have a personal phone on them. Obviously that won't go down well. How it's controlled in schools I have no idea.
We are really lucky our boss is very relaxed, in the office yesterday he was asking us to put breakdance videos on through youtube for about 20 minutes then we had another 10 minutes watching animated viz cartoons. All very random.
It's give and take though we graft when needed and don't take the piss.
We are really lucky our boss is very relaxed, in the office yesterday he was asking us to put breakdance videos on through youtube for about 20 minutes then we had another 10 minutes watching animated viz cartoons. All very random.
It's give and take though we graft when needed and don't take the piss.
It's productivity. If people are comfortable, they'll work well. If they're not, they'll be disruptive and eventually leave.
Workers are people, too. They need to be able to be contactable, and it's easier for example for family or friends to call or text a mobile. Who's friends ever call an office number for them?
I think if I worked in a place where personal phone use was "BANNED!!!" I probably wouldnt be there very long. Or I'd be outside smoking, on my phone, interviewing.
Give me a place where everyone is reasonable, mature and tolerant and you'll get a lot more out of me. To the point where I'm probably too busy to reply to Whatsapps from my mates or random Facebook scrolling.
Some people really dont help themselves on both sides of the coin
Workers are people, too. They need to be able to be contactable, and it's easier for example for family or friends to call or text a mobile. Who's friends ever call an office number for them?
I think if I worked in a place where personal phone use was "BANNED!!!" I probably wouldnt be there very long. Or I'd be outside smoking, on my phone, interviewing.
Give me a place where everyone is reasonable, mature and tolerant and you'll get a lot more out of me. To the point where I'm probably too busy to reply to Whatsapps from my mates or random Facebook scrolling.
Some people really dont help themselves on both sides of the coin
heebeegeetee said:
andy-xr said:
Workers are people, too. They need to be able to be contactable, and it's easier for example for family or friends to call or text a mobile.
Then what did they do before mobile phones, or why did the 'need' only arise since the invention of the mobile phone?andy-xr said:
I dont know about you but people used to call my direct line at the office I was working from or if I was out they'd wait til I was back. Having a mobile changes that need though and I'm not sure whether 'well, we used to do this before phones' is better or worse, it's just not how it works anymore, we dont bang rocks together for our Marlboro Lights fix
But I'm still curious as to how the 'need' arose. At my age I can recall well the decades before mobile phones, but I can't think of how daily life has changed that much that a 'need' has arisen, that coincided with the production of the phones.heebeegeetee said:
andy-xr said:
I dont know about you but people used to call my direct line at the office I was working from or if I was out they'd wait til I was back. Having a mobile changes that need though and I'm not sure whether 'well, we used to do this before phones' is better or worse, it's just not how it works anymore, we dont bang rocks together for our Marlboro Lights fix
But I'm still curious as to how the 'need' arose. At my age I can recall well the decades before mobile phones, but I can't think of how daily life has changed that much that a 'need' has arisen, that coincided with the production of the phones.Throughout an average day I text my folks to make sure they're OK (my Mum needs a new hip and is on a waiting list), my wife texts me to let me know she's in work safely, we talk at lunchtime and again on her way home, and my mates will message me with various other things.
Anyone who I work with who wants to get hold of me, whether staff or customers, they call my mobile because there's more chance that I'll answer it, I tend to have it on me wherever I am. Calls from the switchboard are routed to my mobile because there's a better chance I'll answer it wherever I am if I'm not at my desk (and I work from home with some travel).
If I didnt have one then my answer machine would pile up with messages of people asking for 'stuff' to be done at work while I'm out visiting a customer in the car. Or travelling abroad for a few days. My emails would go unanswered while I wasnt at my computer.
It's about productivity and using technology to get things done.
Let's say for example I'm selling my house. In World 1, I dont have a mobile phone or much other contact, I have a landline at home because work doesnt like me having/taking personal calls. My estate agent calls and leaves a message for me at home that someone would like to come and view my house. I pick that up when I come back from work at 5,30 and call them. They're in the office still so I tell them that they can do the viewing tomorrow. Unfortunately the buyers are looking at 2 other houses, but could look at mine the following week if they havent made an offer on the others.
In World 2, the agent calls me on my mobile at work, asks if they can do a viewing today at 3, they have the keys so I say yes, let me know how it goes. They call at 3,30 with an offer. Call 1 lasts 57 seconds and call 2 with the offer lasts 1:35
In World 1, I'm probably anxious about getting home, it might play on my mind a bit that someone could have called, so I'll nip home at lunch and generally spend my time at work part focussed on what I'm doing, the other thinking about what else is going on
In World 2 I can deal with things quicker and easier so I can get back to work without worrying or disrupting other staff
Edited by andy-xr on Monday 28th September 09:44
andy-xr said:
In World 1, I'm probably anxious about getting home, it might play on my mind a bit that someone could have called, so I'll nip home at lunch and generally spend my time at work part focussed on what I'm doing, the other thinking about what else is going on
In World 2 I can deal with things quicker and easier so I can get back to work without worrying or disrupting other staff
Good point, but why do you have to answer your phone immediately? Why can't they leave a message and you pick it up on break or lunch? In World 2 I can deal with things quicker and easier so I can get back to work without worrying or disrupting other staff
There are no restrictions on personal mobiles where I work; but I wouldn't have an issue if they brought in a rule that said you could only use them on breaks. How often do people really get calls/texts that are essential to answer immediately?
The Beaver King said:
Good point, but why do you have to answer your phone immediately? Why can't they leave a message and you pick it up on break or lunch?
There are no restrictions on personal mobiles where I work; but I wouldn't have an issue if they brought in a rule that said you could only use them on breaks. How often do people really get calls/texts that are essential to answer immediately?
I dont, but the nice thing is that 1) Having the phone for example gives me a little more peace of mind that I'm contactable if needed and 2) I can choose whether to answer or not vs not having the choice at all. It might be that I see the estate agent's number come up while I'm in the middle of some really important desk flying and choose to call them back in 5 minutes, an hour, the next day or not at all. Options, reallyThere are no restrictions on personal mobiles where I work; but I wouldn't have an issue if they brought in a rule that said you could only use them on breaks. How often do people really get calls/texts that are essential to answer immediately?
andy-xr said:
You're asking why people need a mobile phone I think?
Not at all. I'm simply curious as to why the need to communicate during work hours arose only after the mobile phone was produced, such that it now has to be used during working time.Given that most people have at least 3 breaks a day, and given that life is much the same now as in what, 1995, what 'need' suddenly arose after then?
rambo19 said:
Suspend without pay for a week, watch how quickly it stops.
IANAL.A great way to break the law.
From my experience dealing with HR issues, you can only suspend someone without pay when:
- It is written into their contract that this will happen
- It is deemed "reasonable" to do so
- It is due to an investigation into serious misconduct or the employer has such serious concerns about the employee being at work that it is necessary.
If you really think using a mobile phone is serious misconduct, serious enough to reasonably suspend them without pay while you investigate the issue, then I'm happy you are not my HR advisor. Suspending without pay also needs to be to allow you to conduct an investigation into the employee - whether that be as a result of some accusations, collecting evidence, etc. You can't just have a policy that says:
"If you are found to be using a mobile phone within working hours you will be suspended for a week without pay". Then allow them to come back to work without any further action taken.
Well, you can of course have a policy that says the above. What you can't do is expect not to get laughed at by any employment tribunal should it come to that.
If the environment is such that using a phone could be dangerous then prevent them from carrying them - keep them in their lockers, as has been suggested. Ensure all employees are contactable through the front desk (or whatever) in case of emergency.
heebeegeetee said:
andy-xr said:
You're asking why people need a mobile phone I think?
Not at all. I'm simply curious as to why the need to communicate during work hours arose only after the mobile phone was produced, such that it now has to be used during working time.Given that most people have at least 3 breaks a day, and given that life is much the same now as in what, 1995, what 'need' suddenly arose after then?
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff