No phones on the job (how much, home, college)

[EarthBound?]

A factory here in Ohio were I worked for a short period time until a good job opened up elsewhere. I noted that every time I looked around I noticed that employees where on their smart phones instead of paying attention to the fast moving equipment they had turned their backs on, so they could text.

So, I took the time, on my time I might add, to do a little math work on how much time some of them were spending on the their smart phones instead of paying attention to the job that they were being paid to do. The numbers were staggering to say the least, especially when you multiplied it by 12 or grater.

Well, seeing that the company had a "suggestion box", I worked up a little sheet on this and how much time was being (STOLEN) from the company by an average and submitted it. And not to forget the safety factor of turning your attention away from a high speed piece of equipment.

A few months later I found out that the company had (BANISHED) all phones and smart phones from inside the factory and they had to clock out in order to make a call, or wait till they got one of their three breaks to do so. Now their families have to call the office in order to contact mommy or daddy and they either wait for their breaks or clock out and go to their cars and call home .

Probably one too many of those and the company will be looking for an employee who can keep their mind on the job they're being paid to do.

[CSD610]

The last 2 companies I worked for did this and if you were caught one time looking at or using your phone while on the clock you were immediately escorted off of the property.

[EarthBound?]

Good for them and that's the way it should be at all companies. Obviously they need to stay home if their phones are so important to them with all their foolish texting all the time.

[Bo]

FWIW, this is the kind of policy that will keep millennials, who are currently 20-somethings, from wanting to work at a company. They value work-life balance and they will leave employers who don't provide it.

[EarthBound?]

Good! Frankly they new to go work somewhere where safety is not a factor when it comes to moving equipment and top quality piece work for major auto manufactures.

frankly, I wouldn't want any of them any where near me on a line. And more than likely all their doing is BSing about stupid stuff anyway. Besides, our parents did just fine not needing to be connected all the time, and yes, they didn't have smart phones back then and they knew they had a job to do.

[Natural510]

Different workplaces need different rules; where safety is concerned, full attention is important. "Work/life balance" may be more important when you're putting in 60+ hours at an office, less important when you work at a hospital or with heavy machinery.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by Bo

FWIW, this is the kind of policy that will keep millennials, who are currently 20-somethings, from wanting to work at a company. They value work-life balance and they will leave employers who don't provide it.

Work - life balance does not occur at work.

You are being paid to work, not post on Facebook.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by Bo

FWIW, this is the kind of policy that will keep millennials, who are currently 20-somethings, from wanting to work at a company. They value work-life balance and they will leave employers who don't provide it.

Hence the reason all of those college educated 20+ have jobs they hate and they cannot figure out why they are not getting better jobs or being promoted.
Most of them can't even ask for a date with their real voice, they have to use their phone and text.
Yet they continually whine and wonder why they can't find someone to have a real relationship with.

[no1brownsfan]

My company has a no cell phone use policy. In our production side it's for the protection of our employees, and here in the front office it's to avoid distractions. Basically, my boss says that our cell phones must be put away, and if you have to use it to please go outside, or to the breakroom. Not a big deal. I'm at work anyway, so there is no need for anyone to call me. My wife and I will exchange the occasional email, but that's it. Anyone else, if they want to reach me, can call me after work hours.

[rrtechno]

In areas where safety is of a concern, I definitely feel cell phones should be off. In other areas, it is a matter of individual needs.

My personal cell phone number is printed on my business cards. If I am using my cell phone at work, no one knows whether I am communicating with a client/customer or if my wife needs me to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home. Same with my boss. Many times, we need to notify a customer that his product is in and a text message does not interrupt him/her on the job-site.

We also have an unwritten policy at our business that if we are speaking with a customer in person and the phone rings, we continue with the person who is in our office/showroom. The aggravating part is that so many people do not leave a message so that we can return the call. We have had people come in and complain that they tried to call and we didn't answer the phone. We just reply that now that they are in the office, if the phone rings, we well devote our attention to them and not answer the phone. They usually understand then.