Cynthetiq

We hear about cellphones being banned at schools, laws against them during driving (IIRC California just added themselves to the list of those states that ban cellphone use unless using hands free option,) but what about during working hours? NYC bans taxi cab drivers from using cellphones while driving passengers.

If you are at work do you have the right or should you be allowed to use your cellphone?

When I worked at Saatchi and Saatchi I was asked by my manager to monitor my direct reports landline phone usage. So people used their cellphones to skirt around the tracking. I had to make a policy that cellphone use during working hours was not allowed. I did not want to make this policy because I felt it unfair, but nevertheless had to otherwise it was my own ass.

I happen to work within a company now where technology is pervasive. Meetings that should take only 30 minutes take over an hour because people have no concept of respect of anothers time any longer. People show up late, answer cellphones, peck away at blackberry messages, and other distractions instead of the task at hand in front of them.

Personally I have no issue with not being allowed to be on the phone if your job does not require you to be on the phone. I feel the same way with any corporate resource from phones to internet access. The company pays you to be present and perform your work to 100% utilization but are satisfied for the most part if workers are at 75-80% utilization.

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Psycho Dad

Cellulars were becoming a problem where I work and once they starting becoming cameras too that was all she wrote. No photography rules were already in place and enforced.

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thingstodo

I think it's fine for any company to regulate what personal items are brought to the job. After all, it's management's call what is appropriate. I get sick of hearing cell phones ring. Unfortunately, they are part of our work. We do make people turn them off or leave them out of meetings. Same with handhelds.

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Val_1

Well, nobody has the RIGHT to use their cell phone at work. You are, after all, not being paid to make personal calls. You're being paid to work. The occasional personal call for urgent needs is fine with most companies, but many people take this privilege way too far. IMO, people should keep their personal calls to a minimum.

People are becoming slaves to their cell phones. Not just at work, but everywhere. So many people I know can't even carry on a conversation because they're always getting cut off by their cell phones. If I go out with a group of friends, I don't spend half the night talking with my other friends. I turn off the damn cell phone and check messages as time permits. After all, I have my own unique way of being a jerk that doesn't require a cell phone.

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stevie667

i second the motion above.

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ngdawg

Cell phones are banned on the floor while working at the store where I work and they should be banned at every retail store.
I went into Rite-Aid a few days back, cashier is talking (boyfriend, obviously) on her cell, looks at me and says 'what?'. Excuse me??? I tell her my brand of cigs-she looks up and down and asks, 'what did you want again?' I replied, 'you know, if you put the cell phone down, you'd hear me better'. Yea, I know, I'm a bitch.....if that happens again there, the manager is gonna get an earful and it won't be on a cell phone.

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analog

I'm wondering, though, if these calls really are all personal calls, or if they're conducting business. For example, I worked for years in stores that sold wireless phones. We got lots of calls on our cells- but they were customers.

It's very possible that these people are getting client calls or other calls of a preofessional nature.

Also, how annoying can it get in an office? Regular phones are ringing all the time, so what's the difference with cellphones? And if you stopped a convo with a coworker to answer your landline, would that be any different if it's a customer/professional need either way?

People get way too bent out of shape about cellphones, way too often.

If you're having a conversation with someone, and someone else walks up and asks to speak with you, does person #1 get to be upset because someone else needs to talk to you? The difference is, some people are rude, and some people are not rude- if you're rude and not on a cellphone, no one counts it and puts it in a nice little survey to show how evil cellphones are.

They could also put it on vibrate.

Bottom line is- some people are rude and/or inconsiderate of those around them, regardless of whether or not they use a cellphone. Those who are rude and own a cellphone (which, let's face it, a LOT of people have them) just make their rudeness stand out more, and degrade the overall image of cellphone users.

Not everyone is a bitch, or a prick, when it comes to using their cell (meaning not having loud ringers in an office environment, not interrupting people to answer a non-business call). It's just the bad ones stick out so much.

I'm a big supporter of cellphones in general, but i would not have been anywhere near as nice as you were. She'd have gotten something more along the lines of, "put the fucking phone down." She's being an idiot, and rude to us by ignoring us while (barely) doing her job. Her manager would have gotten a talking-to, as well.

Daniel_

You're paid to do a job, so you do it and don't let personal belongings or distractions get in the way of doing it.

We allow phones, but request that people keep them on quiet during the day.

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cyrnel

I will agree with Analog that some individuals are going to be a problem, in person or otherwise, but somewhat like cars, phones are enablers of bad behavior. Their immediacy blurs responsibility for the distraction. They also have an element of addiction that distorts priorities. Some people find a healthy balance, some do not. Unfortunately it often snowballs, with one distraction making the next seem less unusual and you have meetings going nowhere. More invisible loss happens when people aren't cloistered together watching the effect.

Like synthetiq, I've had to manage employees who were yacking on my nickel. It's a real problem, especially for those fresh to the workforce. Work environments with numerous recent grads are an HR minefield. At some point distractions have to be managed. Blanket policy lets the work continue while society figures out subtlety.

In a way, phone bans are an admission of failure. Failure to manage, train, communicate. Possibly a failure to provide adequate tools. Bans are an act of "have to do something" desperation.

However you stack it though, phone bans aren't caused by an acceptable average of employees using them responsibly.

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SirLance

We ban personal use of cell phones while at your desk. If you want to make a personal call on your cell, you have to go to the breakroom or leave the building. Cellphones must be off or on silent while in the building.

If the company provides you with a cell that you use for business, you can use it at your desk. We don't allow walking about while talking because it is distracting to others. Your work area is designed to provide you and those around you with a proper work environment.

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Charlatan

My mobile phone is currently a blackberry assigned to me by my office. 90% of my calls received (possibly higher) are work related. The phone number on my business card that is most prominent is my mobile number. I expect my clients to call pretty much anytime. This stems from living in one time zone and having clients that live in many others.

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hrandani

Ironically the CIA still allows cell phones to be used in their main building.

RAGEAngel9

My company is at the moment encouraging cameraless phones. However, since so many others in our industry already ban camera phones, we probably will too.

More on point thought, who the fuck can't put their phone on silent/vibrate or at least low. I can't imagine any phone not being able too.

To the person asking the difference between land lines and cells...
in my case, you can easily get used to one type of noise, while another will just feel like it's tearing your soul. God do some ringtones bug me.

TexanAvenger

It's okay though... because they can tell if it's a personal call.

Gilda

Back home cell phone usage by school personnel was prohibited while "on the clock", and all official school business was to be conducted over school phone lines.

Here it annoys the hell out of me. My class policy, which is in line with university policy, is no cell phone usage in class. I still get a phone going off about one in every three to four classes. It was worse before students realized that I was actually serious about no phones in class.

Out of class we're free to use personal cells all we like, though it is discouraged in common areas as a matter of courtesy. I use the university system simply because it's a lot more convenient.

Cell phone usage isn't a right. If an employer wants to ban them, I have absolutely no problem with that.

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Psycho Dad

One evening a week, I'm taking an American Sign Language class at a juco near here. There is one gal that can't seem to get the message. The instructor has this lady put her phone away every week. Finally last week, the offender came in with a big earpiece sticking out of her ear. Maybe after the fourth time of being called out to put her phone away she'll get the message.

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Lady Sage

I dont care if my employees have theirs in their pockets on vibrate if they are expecting an important call about a sick relative or such. Otherwise they are to be kept in the back room.

If I catch one talking on the phone in the branch or hear one ringing on the teller line or at an account opening desk I WILL lock it in the Vault until the end of the day.

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SugahBritches

I keep my cell phone in the car. I figure when I need it is going to be when I have a flat tire or if I break down somewhere.

My family/husband gets on to me because I don't take it with me where ever I go.

I also work in the school system and our high school students are consistantly having to come to the front office to have them picked up at the end of the day. I don't know the solution. First, they couldn't have them and then last year they could have them on them but not on. I just have to smile....for it's just one of those things that contradicts........once again.

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OH! Don't dare say that is to the extreme folks! Unless you never watch tv, pick up a newspaper, or listen to the radio.

longbough

I work in close contact with Level IV criminals (the worst of the worst) - so it's no surprise that cellphones, PDAs, items with personal information, unneccesary metalic impliments, glassware etc. are prohibited.

I'd have it no other way.

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hunnychile

Try telling any of the many parents that they aren't allowed to answer those many calls from their kids - all day long (esp. in the summer). This was a huge problem at my last job and the employees - yes, mainly parents, said to management, "just try to fire me over this issue!"

The landlines were all used for customer calls and the busy, patient receptionist was stuck sending customer to the voicemail of these customer service reps. The receptionist complained to head of HR and she even said, "Well, they are parents, you know...." bad situation & lots of angry customers.

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Cynthetiq

As a manager I had lots of issues with this, parents had to leave on time, so thus those who put in OT were those who were childfree or single. Yet when it came time to merit review, I was to still give equal merits to everyone.

As far as school is concerned I think it's asinine for parents today to say, "But it's for emergencies and it's necessary..." Children had survived for decades without cellphones in schools. They will survive decades more.

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yournamehere

I work at an office of about 30 people. I keep my cell on vibrate, and ask my wife to call me on my cell if she needs to talk to me, purely out of consideration for our already over-worked receptionist. Why should personal calls take time out of the receptionist's day, too?

I can't figure out why everyone can't use the vibrate option, though - it is annoying hearing so many of those personalized ringtones all the time. Yeah - you might think it's a cool ringtone, but believe it or not, I could actually go all week without missing it one bit.

Also, I don't feel a bit guilty about a personal phone call now and then - I may get paid to work 8 hours, but that includes breaks. My normal day has me at my desk from 7:30-4:30, with a 20-minute lunch. I figure that factors in a little bit of "me" time - personal calls, web surfing, BS-ing with a co-worker, etc.

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ngdawg

Seems the high school here has a pretty cool way to deal with cell phones: They are completely banned in classes, and only can be used before school, after school and during lunch. The catch? The entire inside of the school, especially the lunchroom, is a no-signal area.
Analog: I probably should have put the adverb in there, 'angrily'. I wasn't pleasant to that girl at all. I quite suspect she won't exactly be eligible for pension from Rite Aid.

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shakran

I doubt it, because what pea-brained boss would forbid his workers from using THEIR phones that THEY, not the company pays for, to make the company money? Hell any manager would love that - makes his budget look all the better.

Last I checked office phones generally do not erupt in a gangsta rap mp3 or the theme song from Monty Python

monkeysugar

I work in a penitentiary, and no cell phones, pda's, etc. are allowed within "the walls" unless they are specifically assigned to your particular post, and the usage is monitored very closely. I leave my phone and wallet in my vehicle, and place my keys in a locker in an area that inmates do not have access to. If someone needs to get ahold of me, they have to call the penitentiary and basically have me tracked down in case of an emergency, or they can call the extension I am at if I have given this out. I would not have it any other way. A pet peeve of mine in past workplaces has been coworkers who are constantly on their phones making personal calls whenever they "aren't busy" i.e. whenever a supervisor is not around. I know that it is not everyone that does this, but there are always a few people who will abuse privilages to the point where they screw it up for everyone else. A few short phone calls here and there to check in with your family or things of that nature does not bother me. When someone spends all of their time on the phone instead of pulling their own weight, or watching out for their fellow coworkers in a potentially dangerous work environment, I am more than a little bit irritated and bothered.

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Gilda

God yes, a full ban. High school students are notorious at rules lawyering, exploiting loopholes, pushing boundries, and interpreting privileges as if they are rights.

One interesting case at the high school illustrates the adolescent groupthink well. The high school decided to give students a mid-morning break between second and third periods, an extra ten minutes for them to us for a bathroom break and time to relax. The student council got permission to sell snacks during this time. The result? Tardies third period went up steadily the three years it was in place, complaints about not having enough time between classes skyrocketed, and students began bringing food and drinks to class third period claiming they had a right to do so. The logic seemed to be that because snacks were available during that time, the school was obligated to provide enough time to buy and consume them, and if this was not done, it justified tardies and eating in class. That some teachers allowed this, and it was up to the individual teacher to decide made it more difficult on the others who did not want this. Students saw this as unfair, as if a privilege being granted others made it a right due everyone.

Because of the general mess involved, morning break was eventually cancelled. Tardies, student complaints, and teacher complaints regarding student behavior following break all went down. I wrote it up for a journal, but never got around to polishing and publishing it.

Cell phone policy the year before the last was no phones in class period, and no phone use on campus during school hours period, only before first bell and after last bell. Because of student complaints and an amazing number of parent complaints, this was relaxed a bit my last year there, thinking it would relieve some of the complaints. The new policy was that cells must be turned off in class, but could be used at students' discretion in between classes or during lunch. As I predicted with Grace, a more lenient policy caused more problems than it solved. Students making calls or texting between classes were late because they were making a call, and tardies started going up. Students very quickly developed a habit of loitering outside a classroom while finishing a call, usually to someone else on campus, being late or finishing up an extra few seconds after the bell rang. Five extra seconds became ten, became thirty, and some students would be finishing a conversation as they entered class after the tardy bell had rung. There were students complaining on their end that because they were permitted to call between classes if they abided by the rules, they had all kinds of "rights" regarding their phones, and began making claims of "needing" their cell phones. In addition being allowed to have them in class meant one would inevitably go off during instruction, or there would be texting going on in class, or flippin' parents calling their children in class. Which of course the students "had" to take.

Meanwhile at the middle school, the rule was no cell phones on campus period. Parents can call the office in an emergency, or leave a message with the secretary who could relay it with a runner if necessary. Students caught with cells had them confiscated and turned into the office. We'd go to joint meetings and just smile at the complaints of the high school teachers and be thankful our principal was a complete bastard about discipline.

We got Sissy a phone when she was 16 and started dating, in part because dating boys was quite a bit more dangerous for her than for most girls. The rules were very clear when it came to using it at school: If I hear a complaint from a teacher, the phone is gone, if it gets used in class, the phone is gone, if it rings in class, the phone is gone, if it gets confiscated and I have to go pick it up at the office, it's gone until you're 18 and doesn't get released except at the beginning of a date. The phone going away was also a potential penalty for any number of other violations of the rules.

Oh, and I'm with you on the meetings. Put the gadgets away, start the meeting on time, get the business done, and get out of there. Do whatever you're going to do before or afterwards.

Gilda

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feelgood

Ban the fuckin thing, everytime I'm trying to work at school, I have to hear one of those stupid custom ringers distrupting my concentration.

I don't understand why every single person in the planet needs to have one 24/7. I remember 10 years ago people actually spoke to each other in person but nowaday, it seem that everybody is on a cellphone regardless of what they're doing at the...hold on, I got a call...

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guthmund

The folks around here should be so clever.

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Meditrina

I think banning of cell phones in the work place is another way to force people to be more considerate of those around them. Those people who are not considerate are creating the need to ban them. Or maybe these people do not have good work ethics. Banning cellphones will not prevent these people from being inconsiderate in other ways, and will not all of a sudden make them have better work ethics.

I like to have mine with me for emergencies. Meaning, if my children or husband have an emergency I am still able to be contacted. But I don't use it to call my friends while at work.

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Crack

same here, the company I work for issued me a blackberry, and all of my e-mail and telephone calls come into that. To hell with people if they get upset that I am checking that thing every few mins. What would they perfer, I finish talking to them, or fix the server that went down that is affecting 130 other people and making the day to day banking procedures impossible?

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