Company Mobile Phone policy

muddipaws

Not sure if anyone can advise, but we have a fair few Engineers we provide with mobile phones for their work which is fine and yes there is wear and tear onthese phones and of course at some point they do need replacing

But, its got to the stage where some of the staff are hammering them and not treating them properly (as if they were their own) becuase they are a company phone. Would it be reasonable to add a Mobile phone Company Policy whereby after two exchanges on the thhird you either contribute 50% (deendent on damage) or 100%

Has anyone experienced this or introduced this?

Example lat 16mths cost me £10k to replace phones and wiped out my budget. Some of them have the attitude its only a company phone they will replace and I know of one who constantly complained about his when he discovered a colleague had a slightly better model phone (honestly)

treetrunks

Have you thought about getting large unsightly cases for the worst offenders. Will offer protection for the phone, if people are prepared to take a bit more care with them then the cases arent required.

Savvy_Sue

I can't see why you wouldn't introduce such a policy: not that I'd limit it to mobile phones.

I've seen terms and conditions of employment where the employer would deduct damage to company equipment which was your fault from your salary.

And I've given people who 'lose' their phones real bricks as a replacement!

If you expect to change phones at regular intervals, a starting point could be along the lines of 'if a mobile phone is provided, these are normally replaced every X months. damage to your phone which requires replacement earlier than this will be chargeable.'

But get it checked to make sure it is enforceable!

BackOnTrack

If you want your engineers to have work phones you should pay for them. If people are abusing them then use the disciplinary system you wouldn't tolerate an employee damaging other company property so the same should apply to the phone. If you are blowing 10k on phones are you providing the more "fancy" models? If so consider providing the cheapest phones you can find. My company's standard phone is a Nokia 2323. It's about as basic as you can get these days and doesn't even have a camera but it does have a great battery life.

maninthestreet

As others have said, given them cheap, bog-standard phones. Put a policy in place whereby any phone that needs replacing due to damage or loss more than, say, twice a year per employee, will be charged to the employee.

getmore4less

cheap unlocked PAYG mobile phones are avaialble from carphone warehouseorother on line moile phone outlets) for <£20 some time <£5 just get a few of these and they can use their contract sims in those.


Just make the policy replacement at the networks free renewal rate(12months ish) or you break the phone you get a cheapy till next free network renewal.


You do get the phones back?

mountainofdebt

what sort of phones are you providing? Could it be that whilst they may look pretty they aren't really suitable for the work conditions that the engineers find themselves in?

I would agree that some basic sim-free phone should solve the problem - Junior has one that he uses when he goes out only cost £29.99 so got a great loss if it is lost ....don't think any self respecting thief would steal it!

The other thing to consider getting is something like a JCB phone which seems to be for situations that the engineers may find themselves in.

Finally if all else fails I'd be tempted to tell the engineers due to their inability to look after the work phones, then they will have to use their own mobile phones and reclaim the relevant phone calls (subject to itemised phone bills being supplied!)

paddedjohn

as already said, you can get mobile phones for about £10, a cheap robust one would cost about £20 if you bought in bulk (sounds like this is what you need), for 10k you could get 500 phones, basic but adaquate.

bap98189

You spent £10k on handsets! How many phones did you buy?

Have you considered some of the more indestructable phones like the JCB Toughphone? Those are waterproof and can supposedly be run over by a car without damage.

eamon

Sounds like my place of work. Except we also use PDA's (aka smart phones), they get thrown, dropped, run over, stuffed full of !!!!!! and other downloads. To my knowledge not even a threat of a verbal warning has been given. This is inspite of there being a substantial combined HR & IT doucument warning of dire consequences. Its just weird.

[Deleted User]

We have a similar "two losses, then you buy the replacement" rule. My boss managed to loose two, then it cost him 80 quid to get a new one. It was only a rubbish (but quite solid) nokia.

£625 quid a month on average to replace phones is pretty crazy. Give them the cheapest possible 'plain and basic' nokia when they loose or break theirs.