Work demanding I leave my in locker

Undervalued

mr_stripey said:

Grumpy_chap said:

WelshPaul said:

My employer has a no-phone policy. They have CCTV everywhere and if anyone is caught using their mobile they get sent home. I'm OK with that! If there is a family emergency, they will allow us to make or receive a call, but we have to speak to a team leader and get approval. Even then, one must be out of view from customers/clients/public. I have since purchased an Apple Watch so that I can discreetly be notified via message of any potential family emergency.

As a genuine question, because I truly do not know, how does the Apple watch show text messages when away from the linked iPhone?

I have a Garmin fitness watch and that also alerts (and shows) text messages and calls but the link to my Android phone is via bluetooth so the watch only provides an alert if near to the phone.  In a workplace where the phone is left in a locker, I would expect to be out of range in the majority of cases?

Does the Apple Watch have a separate sim card in and receive signals directly?
Is it coincidence that you are near enough the phone to have the link even when at work?

I think this poster is not the original "phone in locker" poster, but has an employer who does not let them use the phone, but doesn't prevent them having it on their person? That's how I'm reading it - I think you're right - the notifications only come through on the watch when "paired" with the phone (i.e. in close range)?

That is my understanding too.

Maybe WelshPaul works close enough to his locker for it not to be an issue or maybe both devices are on the company wifi? Anyway, if the employer is happy with the setup then fine.

The original concern regarding the OP in this thread (Gadget88) was that they seemed to want to get around the employer's wishes by splitting hairs about the technology. Given that they seemed to have other issues with their employer I couldn't see that ending well!

FIREDreamer

Undervalued said:

mr_stripey said:

Grumpy_chap said:

WelshPaul said:

My employer has a no-phone policy. They have CCTV everywhere and if anyone is caught using their mobile they get sent home. I'm OK with that! If there is a family emergency, they will allow us to make or receive a call, but we have to speak to a team leader and get approval. Even then, one must be out of view from customers/clients/public. I have since purchased an Apple Watch so that I can discreetly be notified via message of any potential family emergency.

As a genuine question, because I truly do not know, how does the Apple watch show text messages when away from the linked iPhone?

I have a Garmin fitness watch and that also alerts (and shows) text messages and calls but the link to my Android phone is via bluetooth so the watch only provides an alert if near to the phone.  In a workplace where the phone is left in a locker, I would expect to be out of range in the majority of cases?

Does the Apple Watch have a separate sim card in and receive signals directly?
Is it coincidence that you are near enough the phone to have the link even when at work?

I think this poster is not the original "phone in locker" poster, but has an employer who does not let them use the phone, but doesn't prevent them having it on their person? That's how I'm reading it - I think you're right - the notifications only come through on the watch when "paired" with the phone (i.e. in close range)?

That is my understanding too.

Maybe WelshPaul works close enough to his locker for it not to be an issue or maybe both devices are on the company wifi? Anyway, if the employer is happy with the setup then fine.

The original concern regarding the OP in this thread (Gadget88) was that they seemed to want to get around the employer's wishes by splitting hairs about the technology. Given that they seemed to have other issues with their employer I couldn't see that ending well!

If you have a cellular apple watch (as opposed to just the GPS version which is about £100 cheaper) with its own plan on the same account as your iphone, then it works (notifications, texts, whatsapp, phonecalls) even if you leave your phone at home - as long as there is a phone signal where you and your watch are, of course. The phone, wherever it is, doesn’t even need to be switched on!

Grumpy_chap

FIREDreamer said:

If you have a cellular apple watch (as opposed to just the GPS version which is about £100 cheaper) with its own plan on the same account as your iphone, then it works (notifications, texts, whatsapp, phonecalls) even if you leave your phone at home - as long as there is a phone signal where you and your watch are, of course. The phone, wherever it is, doesn’t even need to be switched on!

I really never knew that smart watches with their own sim service were available.  It seems, though, the OP would not need anything as expensive as the Apple Watch if the following item at £10 actually works (and so long as counting steps is not a concern):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMEBAY-Bluetooth-Notification-Pedometer-Compatible/dp/B01KC28FG6/

Such a device could allow the OP to leave their phone in the locker and still be contactable for emergency.  Probably not to call the OP via the watch (even though that looks like it could be possible) but OP could say to any family members that, if the need arises, to simply send a message advising of an urgent need to call back.  The OP could then return to the locker bay and make the necessary call / conversation from the rest room.  This assumes, of course, that the restriction on phone in the workplace is not for a safety related reason.

Undervalued

FIREDreamer said:

Undervalued said:

mr_stripey said:

Grumpy_chap said:

WelshPaul said:

My employer has a no-phone policy. They have CCTV everywhere and if anyone is caught using their mobile they get sent home. I'm OK with that! If there is a family emergency, they will allow us to make or receive a call, but we have to speak to a team leader and get approval. Even then, one must be out of view from customers/clients/public. I have since purchased an Apple Watch so that I can discreetly be notified via message of any potential family emergency.

As a genuine question, because I truly do not know, how does the Apple watch show text messages when away from the linked iPhone?

I have a Garmin fitness watch and that also alerts (and shows) text messages and calls but the link to my Android phone is via bluetooth so the watch only provides an alert if near to the phone.  In a workplace where the phone is left in a locker, I would expect to be out of range in the majority of cases?

Does the Apple Watch have a separate sim card in and receive signals directly?
Is it coincidence that you are near enough the phone to have the link even when at work?

I think this poster is not the original "phone in locker" poster, but has an employer who does not let them use the phone, but doesn't prevent them having it on their person? That's how I'm reading it - I think you're right - the notifications only come through on the watch when "paired" with the phone (i.e. in close range)?

That is my understanding too.

Maybe WelshPaul works close enough to his locker for it not to be an issue or maybe both devices are on the company wifi? Anyway, if the employer is happy with the setup then fine.

The original concern regarding the OP in this thread (Gadget88) was that they seemed to want to get around the employer's wishes by splitting hairs about the technology. Given that they seemed to have other issues with their employer I couldn't see that ending well!

If you have a cellular apple watch (as opposed to just the GPS version which is about £100 cheaper) with its own plan on the same account as your iphone, then it works (notifications, texts, whatsapp, phonecalls) even if you leave your phone at home - as long as there is a phone signal where you and your watch are, of course. The phone, wherever it is, doesn’t even need to be switched on!

Interesting, thanks.

However I think the main point remains. The employer is, presumably, seeking to ban employees from making and receiving calls, texts, WhatsApp etc during working hours (except for genuine family emergencies). Getting round the letter of the rules by using different technology is unlikely to go down well, particularly with employees where there are other issues or a strained relationship.

timmy963

Moving locations 5 times over 13 years makes it appear that you are the problem who can't handle change or authority.

Unless you require a device for serious health related reasons, then you won't really have a leg to stand on, and giving the excuse that you had your phone stolen in a completely unrelated scenario and in a different country really isn't a good enough excuse.

If I didn't like everything my bosses told me at work and jumped ship each time, I would be changing jobs/location every 2 weeks...