Question re mobile phones

keyser666

AcidHouse wrote: »

We have a strict policy for no mobile phones to be on desks or used in the office unless your line manager agrees. Circumstances where it would be agreed that you can leave your phone on your desk would be things such as - child issues / expecting calls from school/nursery, expecting call/text re a sick child or relative/pet, expecting calls from solicitors, people going through house sales/buying, expecting call from garage re car mot, something being delivered....

For the more serious issues above - if you said no to the person, they wouldn't be productive as they would be worrying so much. The first thing they do in the morning is ask if they can leave their phone on, it gives them some control over the situation then they can concentrate better on work. If you support the issue as a line manager, they give more back as an employee as they feel cared for.

In other words, our policy exists to stop people from casually texting something that can wait etc.
Your temp is taking the !!!!

Sounds like you work in a call centre or similar.

Your policy in your work place is just that a policy for your work place and applicable there. You cannot say she is taking the !!!! just because you cannot do it in your place of work.

AcidHouse

keyser666 wrote: »

Sounds like you work in a call centre or similar.

Your policy in your work place is just that a policy for your work place and applicable there. You cannot say she is taking the !!!! just because you cannot do it in your place of work.

The OP asked the below questions so I answered the questions... And yes in my opinion if the temp is continuously texting despite being told not to then she is taking the !!!!

Does your employer permit texting and use of personal mobiles during work hours?

We have a temp with us at the moment who cannot understand why it's frowned on at work.... I'd just like to see if it's only my place of work!

Caroline_a

Thanks all. Went from bad to worse last week. Threw a total strop because I pulled her up on being half an hour later. Then walked out.

Needless to say she won't be getting a reference....

AcidHouse

Undervalued wrote: »

Gosh, these poor people. Their lives must have been truly terrible before mobiles were invented!

In a REAL emergency somebody can contact the company. If that was the only option it would be amazing how few actual emergencies there are!

Depends where they work - would you want a incoming personal phone call recorded on company systems & people listening in, or would you prefer to take the phone out of the office? If you have a child constantly in/out of hospital, would you want to discuss their illnesses on the shop floor? Taking the call on your own phone affords privacy.

keyser666

AcidHouse wrote: »

The OP asked the below questions so I answered the questions... And yes in my opinion if the temp is continuously texting despite being told not to then she is taking the !!!!

Does your employer permit texting and use of personal mobiles during work hours?

We have a temp with us at the moment who cannot understand why it's frowned on at work.... I'd just like to see if it's only my place of work!

I am able to read but I do not see it taking the !!!!, it is frowned upon in work, it is not policy, there has been no comment or remote mention of the temps work so that is not called into question, there is no problem here, just merely that some people have an opinion it is not to be done.

Caroline_a wrote: »

Thanks all. Went from bad to worse last week. Threw a total strop because I pulled her up on being half an hour later. Then walked out.

Needless to say she won't be getting a reference....

Well her not getting a reference is to her advantage, you must be new to this lark

Caroline_a

No, definitely not new to this lark , but if approached for a reference then I would refuse. However, I work for a large global corporation so it would be done (or not) by HR.

J_i_m

AcidHouse wrote: »

Depends where they work - would you want a incoming personal phone call recorded on company systems & people listening in, or would you prefer to take the phone out of the office? If you have a child constantly in/out of hospital, would you want to discuss their illnesses on the shop floor? Taking the call on your own phone affords privacy.

Indeed.

However if the workplace has a policy in place banning the use and/or presence of mobile phones, then that employee needs to talk to their supervisor/manager first to explain the situation and request reasonable adjustments for that period.

There could be many reasonable reasons why mobiles could be banned from a workplace, for example X-Ray departments in Hospitals. Hospital settings where mobiles present a risk to the confidentiality of patients. Research industry where they're guarding against espionage etc.

Every workplace has to weigh up the pros and cons of mobile use. Maybe a mobile becomes a essential tool to the job, for ease of contact and reporting back to base e.g. community nursing & social workers etc.

There are going to be some settings where mobile phones present a intolerable risk where it is reasonable to ban them outright. Some settings mobile contact would prove to be the most effective way of communicating with colleagues and in many others it wouldn't make much difference one way or the other.

The point is that the policy needs to be relevant to the work place, the staff need to be aware of their responsibility (induction, training etc) and the employer also needs to follow their own policy.

In the example of the OP.. if the employee's use of the phone was deemed unsuitable because it contravened the policy and if it had negative effect on their productivity then it would definitely something to be brought up in their supervision or appraisal.

lauralouise90

Caroline_a wrote: »

Quick question for all please -

Does your employer permit texting and use of personal mobiles during work hours?

We have a temp with us at the moment who cannot understand why it's frowned on at work.... I'd just like to see if it's only my place of work!

We don't really allow texting where I work, but there are always those who break the rules. Phone calls can be answered if they're important and you quickly ask if you can take the call.... but really phones should be face down on the desk or in a bag.

keyser666

Caroline_a wrote: »

No, definitely not new to this lark , but if approached for a reference then I would refuse. However, I work for a large global corporation so it would be done (or not) by HR.

So why say you will not be giving a reference inferring that it was your decision?

rds60h

Caroline_a wrote: »

No, definitely not new to this lark ,
However, I work for a large global corporation

If not new to this lark and in a global corporation, then surely you should know the company policy ref. mobile phones ?
In which case you should have been dealing with the situation as per policy.
If there is not a policy then the use of the mobile phone should not be the issue but whether the person is fully completing their function or not, particularly with a Temp because their motivation for the work can be completely different to that of a full company employed person. They may be Temps to suit their situations, which could include the opportunity to have full access to their mobile phone but still be able to fulfil the service required of them.
You have said that others in the office are fuming about it and that this person is continuously on the phone, so are these furious others spending their time watching what this Temp is doing ? or are they fuming because they are not capable of using their mobiles and fully performing their own functions ?
If the use of the mobile was so regular that it affected office function then I would have questioned the need of use and reacted according to reasons.
The fact that you have asked advice about this on an open public forum would suggest that perhaps you are not really suited to your position, horses for courses and all that.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but in my opinion that is the reality of the situation