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The OP is a caregiver, but it's not the caregiving job that is giving him/her a hard time about the cellphone. It's the retail job. The reason they want the cellphone in the first place is so the elderly/sick person can contact them in case of emergency.
Watching all of this quibbling about something so dumb just makes me thankful I don't have to deal with it. I won't be micromanaged, and nor do I feel the need to micromanage others. I'll get my work done, and if I hire you, you get your work done. End of story.
Honestly it sounds like the OP has two very conflicting responsibilities. They need to find a new job if company policy doesn't work with their needs.
And for the millionth time, it isn't micromanagement. If the company does not want you on the phone and are paying you to stay off it, then do so. Otherwise, start your own company and set the rules however you see fit. If your company doesn't care about cell use, then great.
It's micromanagement to insist that a phone remain in the car and that you don't use it during your lunch break. My phone would stay in my pocket and I'd use it during my unpaid breaks as I deemed necessary. Of course, I would not take a retail job that had such ridiculous rules in the first place, so it's a moot point. Saying phones are not allowed to be used on the floor or during your clocked-in time is fine. Saying that they're not allowed on your person at all, even during your unpaid breaks (for a retail job, mind you, nothing with a high level of security clearance involved) is overkill.
It's micromanagement to insist that a phone remain in the car and that you don't use it during your lunch break. My phone would stay in my pocket and I'd use it during my unpaid breaks as I deemed necessary. Of course, I would not take a retail job that had such ridiculous rules in the first place, so it's a moot point. Saying phones are not allowed to be used on the floor or during your clocked-in time is fine. Saying that they're not allowed on your person at all, even during your unpaid breaks (for a retail job, mind you, nothing with a high level of security clearance involved) is overkill.
That depends. Is the lunch break a paid break that is taken inside the building where the policy prohibits phones? If so, that isn't micromanagement. If the break is an unpaid break that the OP takes outside of the facility then it would be nonsense.
Honestly it sounds like the OP has two very conflicting responsibilities. They need to find a new job if company policy doesn't work with their needs.
And for the millionth time, it isn't micromanagement. If the company does not want you on the phone and are paying you to stay off it, then do so. Otherwise, start your own company and set the rules however you see fit. If your company doesn't care about cell use, then great.
Once again, OP was interviewing, and didn't take the position because of the cell phone policy.
Once again, OP was interviewing, and didn't take the position because of the cell phone policy.
I understand that. However the conversation kind of morphed into a conversation of phones in the workplace so it's easy to get confused.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FeelinLow
I checked into a part-time retail position in a family-owned business close to home. It seemed ideal for me as a 24/7 caregiver who is retired and just wanted to work a few hours a day, a few days a week, for extra income and to get out of the house.
They wanted to hire me ''on the spot'' and the hours seemed fine considering my role at home, until their cell phone policy came to light.
It seemed overly strict to me: no cell phones at work, period. If you brought one with you it had to be left at the front desk or in your car. No making or accepting ANY phone calls at work. Not even during break, lunch, via their landlines, or your cell.
As a caregiver that was unacceptable and there was no budging on their policy, so that ended that for me.
I mean, who would work where they could not even be contacted via the store's line for a family emergency?
Anyone run into policies this strict?
One thing I noticed that many brought up was that they couldn't work for a company that wouldn't even allow emergency calls into the landline.... reading back through the first post I don't see that as being what the company said. I would wager that the company would be understanding if an emergency call came through. It appears as if the policy means no personal calls during work. If it were a paid lunch where you are still in the building, I see no issues with the policy. The OP also did not mention that they couldn't go to their car to make a call on their cell. I think a lot of things were overlooked.
Exactly. That is what I have told people--I know what I'm doing, I don't need to appease stupid people. I don't mind a quick simple explanation periodically, but beyond that yes think what you want I know the truth and if I know the truth that's good enough. Having to do something in an inferior way because people are too stupid to understand it is something I have close to zero patience for.
All due respect, I believe you've identified yourself as a cashier, can you tell us what use a cellphone is as a tool for your job? As a tool...not a convenience.
I understand that. However the conversation kind of morphed into a conversation of phones in the workplace so it's easy to get confused.
One thing I noticed that many brought up was that they couldn't work for a company that wouldn't even allow emergency calls into the landline.... reading back through the first post I don't see that as being what the company said. I would wager that the company would be understanding if an emergency call came through. It appears as if the policy means no personal calls during work. If it were a paid lunch where you are still in the building, I see no issues with the policy. The OP also did not mention that they couldn't go to their car to make a call on their cell. I think a lot of things were overlooked.
Businesses like that have a main number. You call the main number and get transferred to the bakery to order the cake. So when I worked at a place like that ... a large department store... if something happened my parents knew what department I was at that day. We had a family calendar, and I wrote down my hours and department on it. More for me than Mom.
So when my dad called to tell me my niece had arrived I got the call in the china department.
Several years later, at college, my resident assistant got the news my father had died, and waited for my brother in law and my fathers best friend to get there to escort them to my room to take me home. She didn't tell me, didn't shadow me. Just knew I'd be in my room by the time they got there.
Businesses like that have a main number. You call the main number and get transferred to the bakery to order the cake. So when I worked at a place like that ... a large department store... if something happened my parents knew what department I was at that day. We had a family calendar, and I wrote down my hours and department on it. More for me than Mom.
So when my dad called to tell me my niece had arrived I got the call in the china department.
Several years later, at college, my resident assistant got the news my father had died, and waited for my brother in law and my fathers best friend to get there to escort them to my room to take me home. She didn't tell me, didn't shadow me. Just knew I'd be in my room by the time they got there.
Some things you don't do on the phone.
EXACTLY. I would bet my salary that the company would have allowed emergency calls to come through and would have made sure the OP got the news. I think the OP misunderstood what the company said and blew it out of proportion.
I can recall the days before I had a cell phone (early 2000's). We used 2 way radios to communicate between our warehouse and our delivery trucks. Got a radio call one day to come back to the shop asap and let another driver finish my deliveries. Sometimes they would do that if a truck broke down (I usually repaired them too) so I didn't think anything of it.
When I got back, my boss told me that my wife called to tell me my grandfather passed away (we were extremely close). He had two of my co-workers drive me home. One took me, the other drove my truck. He didn't want me driving for fear that I would be out of it and felt it would be safer if they took me home. I was grateful for that even though I could have made my way home. My wife called our office and told my boss, and they made sure to get that message to me. I don't know of any human being cold hearted enough to keep that from an employee.
No, I did not misunderstand and ''blow it out of proportion''. It was exactly as I stated.
I talked with the owner and there was no budging on the policy.
I suspect he was having trouble with a current employee among the small group that worked there as well as having trouble with seasonal employees.
Last edited by HappyDogToday; 01-06-2017 at 08:06 AM..
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