Cell phones are ingrained into our society, including the workplace. Browsing the internet, taking personal calls, texting or perusing social media – all of these can be distractions for your employees. It’s a habitual behavior and most cannot fathom the idea of being separated from their devices.
As a business owner, you want each member of your team laser-focused on their tasks at hand when at work. The degree of the problem appears to be relative. Some can have their phones at work and ensure they’re not a distraction. Many others have problems and end up wasting valuable time. But what is the best course of action for you? We explore the benefits and disadvantages to an office cell phone policy in this article.
Point blank, cell phone bans generally do not work
Banning cell phones outright from the workplace usually just means employees find other ways to use them. They may take extended breaks or spend extra time in the bathroom so they can be on their phones. Depending on where your business is located, it may not even be legal to ban phones from your workplace. And some employees may have very legitimate reasons to use their cell phones at work: arranging child care with a spouse, an older relative who needs special care, or other family emergencies. Thus, alternatives need to be examined.
Establish a cell phone policy
It is important to label this as something other than an outright ban. Any cell phone policy should specify times or situations at which cell phones should be prohibited, whether it’s during meetings, in production areas or when with customers.
Other guidelines to consider may include:
- Setting phones to silent while on the clock
- Banning use of phone cameras
- Taking personal texts but not phone calls
- Only taking personal calls when on break or in private
- Keeping calls to a set time
When you come up with a policy, put it in writing and have your employees sign off on the policy to show they clearly understand what the expectations are regarding their cell phone use at work.
Your office phone policy needs clear consequences
There should be disciplinary action whenever the policy is violated, for any reason. When an employee’s work suffers due to their cell phone usage or any other type of office disruption, there should be proper recourse available to management to handle each issue.
All disciplinary measures should be detailed as part of the policy. Thus, employees will know exactly what will happen to them upon failing to uphold the rules of the policy. Moreover, treating all employees the same under the policy will keep it fair and increase the likelihood the policy is accepted and followed.
Business consulting services
No matter what industry your business is in, you can benefit from a clear, standard cell phone policy in your workplace. Bryant Consultants to help. Our staff includes small business consultants who have expertise in various aspects of running a successful small business. Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Call 877-768-4799 or contact us online.
