Cellphone Policies

[DesignFox]

I think businesses have every right to tell their employees to put their phones away in a locker or break room. If you absolutely, positively cannot be without your phone, don't work for a company that bans them.

The only thing I agree with is that the management shouldn't be allowed to confiscate them. We're grown-ups. Not kids.

I do not believe the world is any more dangerous now than it used to be. A population of 6 billion and growing should be plenty proof of that.

[pile of monkeys]

The world is much more dangerous than it was before cell phones. The scenario you described isn't always realistic. If it was, this wouldn't even be an issue. But since it isn't, i'm sorry, but people have a right to have their cell phone on them while they work. Don't punish the responsible people just because other people are fuck-ups.

I don't think the world has gotten more dangerous, I think people have wildly expanded their definitions of "emergency" to include anything that will allow them to break rules and use their cell phones at work. My brother was in a serious car accident in the pre-cell phone days. I worked in a huge department store. My parents called the main phone line. I was on the phone with them less than three minutes later. You're not "unreachable" if your cell phone isn't tethered to you, you're momentarily inconvenienced and lacking the ability to entertain yourself by doing something other than your job when you're being paid to, well, work.

There's no way to measure this statistic, but I'd be interested to see how many actual, real emergencies occur during working hours that necessitate having your cell phone on and in use while working versus how much time is spent using the phone for texting and non-emergency, non-work related reasons. You may think you have a "right" to have your cell phone on you at work, but your employer has the right to tell you that you can't. Probably better to find somewhere to work that has policies you agree with.

[AdminAssistant]

You know, I didn't even want a cell phone. I saw it as an electronic leash that allowed my parents to track my every move. I got one when I was 17, and was forced to because a girl had been kidnapped and killed in the area.

When I worked for *popular mall store* my grandmother broke her hip. My parents called the store, the manager answered, she got me, put me on the line with my folks, said, "Come to the hospital when your shift is over" and that was that. And, that's the only real emergency - family member/close friend in the hospital. What's the time difference...30 seconds? A minute? What else would you consider an emergency?

Yes, I do think you should be able to keep your phone in a locker or wherever with your other belongings. Check it on breaks. But, from my experience, a phone on the floor is a distraction and will be used for non-emergency purposes. Better just to ban them outright.

[blas87]

I stick by every "condenscending and potentially hurtful" comment I made on the thread at CS.

I was and still am very disappointed in a lot of members who were so adament that no one had any right to touch their phone or tell them what to do with it, while they are probably the same people who are the first to pitch a fit when a customer at their work goes through their line yapping on a cell phone.

You can go a whole two or three hours without a phone, and you will live. Just fucking deal with it.

[the_std]

blas, I actually completely agree with everything you said in the thread on CS. There is no point in sugar-coating it or trying to be nice about it. The sheer amount of hypocrisy on this subject really amazes me. Okay, taking cell phones away means you're treating people like children. But that only happens if you're acting irresponsibly, like a child.

Deal with the consequences of your actions. The rules apply equally to everyone. And if you really hate it so much, don't work there.

[blas87]

Thank you for your support.

While we're at it, wasn't it Irv or someone else on CS who brought up the "special snowflake syndrome" that was taking over that thread? So the same people bitching about people having no right to tell them what to do with their cell phones are the same ones who bitch about customers on cell phones are ALSO the same people who are trying to get away with being a special snowflake, even though they probably make fun of threads where customers act like special snowflakes.

Glad at least one person didn't think I was too "hurtful" with my comments. Quit being hypocrites and realize some of the stuff that some of you guys wrote about was pure hypocrisy towards what you supposedly stand for when it comes to customer service and people who think the rules don't apply to them.

[katie kaboom]

So the same people bitching about people having no right to tell them what to do with their cell phones are the same ones who bitch about customers on cell phones...

You keep assuming that, but you shouldn't. I could care less if someone comes through my line with a cell phone. Quite frankly. it makes the transaction easier sometimes because they are too busy on the phone to argue about the price of every little thing.

[DesignFox]

I just read that thread over there. Sheesh!

I happen to agree. Nobody NEEDS to have their cell phone on them. Period.

My only comment, Blas, is that I think the mention of 1984 was about the book 1984- "big brother is watching!" Although- I don't see how a manager taking away your cell phone because you weren't following the rules can be compared to a totalitarian nanny state government that watches/controls your every move...

Again, not sure I agree with taking the phone away (I wouldn't want to get into the liability issue with that!) but I absolutely believe that the phone should not be visible to customers. Wherever it is you keep your belongings, that's where your phone should be. If you can't abide by the policy, don't work in that store, or you should fully expect to deal with the consequences of your actions.

[blas87]

That was my bad, DesignFox....another member already PM'ed me today and corrected me on that. I had a blonde moment and thought members were talking about 1984...when there weren't cell phones. Ha ha. Silly me.

In all honesty, really and truly, I wouldn't want my cell phone taken away either. I'd be a little pissed. That's why I don't put myself in a situation where that can happen. There is NO REASON anyone on the clock at work needs to be playing with their phone while they are supposed to be at work, unless their boss doesn't have an issue with it. If you have a boss that says "Go ahead, Facebook on your iphone at work" well then fine. But in most jobs, NO cell phone playing while working. I don't see the big fucking issue with going 2 maybe 3 hours without your precious cell phone. Seriously? How the fuck do you manage? If you're over the age of 25, how the hell did you manage before cell phones took over the world? Get over yourself.

I keep my cell phone in my purse and with me at all times....in case my car breaks down, in case there is an emergency. But you know what? Emergencies are not text messages and chain text messages and video messages.

[DesignFox]

You keep assuming that, but you shouldn't. I could care less if someone comes through my line with a cell phone. Quite frankly. it makes the transaction easier sometimes because they are too busy on the phone to argue about the price of every little thing.

What if you need to correct an error? What if something goes wrong and you need the customer to verify information? What if you have a question for the customer that pertains to their transaction?

Maybe not so much at a grocery store, but at least in my job, it is very important that I have the customer's attention. Between pricing, signing contracts and everything else, I have a lot of information to impart. As it is the process can (not always but CAN) take a half hour or more! if a line is forming, I don't have time to wait around for someone to finish telling Aunt Stacy about their foot fungus problems.

That is completely rude, not just to me, but to the customers waiting behind that person.

And how many times have customers not paid attention to what was scanned, then come back screeching and yelling that there are errors or that some other mis-communication took place? Wouldn't have happened if they paid attention to the cashier/sales person/whoever in the first place.

It's all about common courtesy and respect.

[katie kaboom]

It's all about common courtesy and respect.

But i guess respecting someone's personal property doesn't apply.

The issue here is not people not being able to use cell phones on the floor. It's people being told they can't have them on the floor. If I have my cell phone with me, I take 2 seconds in between customers to check it, and there is something that needs my attention, it gives me the chance to take a break as soon as I can to deal with whatever it is that needs my attention. Life doesn't stop while you're at work, nor should it.

[blas87]

But at the same time, there is really no reason you cannot go an entire period in between breaks without checking your phone.

What I am trying to stress is that I do not care if people keep their phones in their purse/pocket/bra/whatever while they are at work, just the point that you should be working, not playing on your phone when you are not on break.

If I ever went to a Wal-Mart or grocery store and I saw an associate at their register texting away, even if there were no customers, I'd be inclined to let the manager know about it.

When I worked at the grocery store and the gas station and the Deb shop, we were forbidden to be playing on our phones, even if we didn't have customers. We had to face aisles, clean our conveyer belts, put re-shop away, etc. There is always something to do. Your phone can wait 2 hours. I guarantee.

[katie kaboom]

What I am trying to stress is that I do not care if people keep their phones in their purse/pocket/bra/whatever while they are at work, just the point that you should be working, not playing on your phone when you are not on break.

Checking to see if you got any calls is not playing with your phone. Not everyone who has a cell phone sends text messages constantly.

[DesignFox]

<snip>

The issue here is not people not being able to use cell phones on the floor. It's people being told they can't have them on the floor. <snip> Life doesn't stop while you're at work, nor should it.

Can you keep your purse with you out on the sales floor? Do you get to wear whatever clothes you feel like to work, or do you have to wear a uniform? Do you get to bring a book with you? An MP3 player?

After all, you're only reading a page or two in between customers. What's the big deal?

Where do we draw the line?

And no. I didn't say that work should be all there is to life. But while you are at work, you should be focusing on your work. Check your phone when you are on break.

And again, I didn't necessarily agree that employers have the right to take your property from you. I certainly wouldn't agree to that, but I'd be ready to face the consequences.

But then, I also wouldn't use my phone on the sales floor- thus keeping me out of danger of having it taken, or I wouldn't work for that company since I would know the policy before taking the job, or if there was some extenuating circumstance that required I have it, I'd be a big girl and go talk to my manager first and see if we can bend the policy.

There's plenty of solutions to this problem.

Seriously, what do you think people did before they had cell phones? I promise you, people got in touch with one another. And nobody thought their life had stopped just because they couldn't see if they had any phone calls in between customers. They did their job for their eight hours and they went home. If something happened, somebody called the store, an employee came to notify the employee/take over their transaction for them.

From an employers standpoint, I'd prefer someone call me and allow me to relieve the employee so there would be less chaos involved. That way I don't have a panicked employee telling me they got an emergency call, OMG I have a line you have to relieve me blah blah blah blah blah. I can come over, say, "Hey, I'll take over for you, there's an emergency and you are needed." And no one else has to know what's going on. Customers don't need to be left angry and confused. Other employees aren't running around trying to cover for you and have their work backing up. etc.

If not for courtesy sake (and really in your instance it doesn't sound like you are being discourteous), at least look at it from this standpoint.

[the_std]

I doubt that checking your phone to see if you got calls is even necessary. The only time I've ever carried my cell phone with me on the floor was when bad things had already happened and I needed to be available if things took a turn for the worse. I truly think it is disrespectful for anyone to be checking their phone, for any reason, while on the floor. That's what breaks are for.

No one is trying to say that special situations don't require special consideration, but for every day, there really should not be any need to check your phone while you are on the floor. Simple as that. Your job ought to be your focus, not your phone.