Employees and cell phones

[shirtz]

What are your company policies regarding texting at work? I can't walk through the shop without seeing someone texting.
It's an distraction as well as a waste of $. We have grown to the point of having 10 employees and I need to figure out how to remedy the situation.

[rmonks]

I have two employees and they tend to do there texting on breaks and lunch. Of course I pay them good for the area, and  they know I am pretty serious about my business, and will not tolerate my money being wasted.  I would just tell them like you said it is a distraction to their work, and you don't allow them sending text. It all boils down to YOU ARE THE BOSS.

[Socalfmf]

simple...ZERO cell phones...makes it real easy...if there is an emergency call the main line....if not you have lunch.  we also make zero cell phones because we noticed people taking a lot of bathroom breaks...noone goes pee every 15-20 min....

[T Shirt1]

Just say NO.  One of the few things that's strictly forbidden here.   Do calls or txt on breaks or lunch and please be sure to step away from your work area.  When they start texting they quit working and when they quit working the business has no use for them. JMO

[balloonguy]

http://www.ecrater.com/p/11668281/5-antenna-cell-phone-jammer-remote
Never tried it but it is worth a try.

[mk162]

those are banned in many states. FYI.

[Sbrem]

"you are not being paid to talk or text on the phone. What don't you get?"

Steve

[Homer]

Kids at my wife's high school are allowed to use their cell phones in the halls between classes, new rule this year -no lie. . . .you take a kids cell away and they will turn and sue you for theft. . .main reason I couldn't be a teacher, I would have an anvil and smash the phones when I see them. . .and some kids fingers while he's still hanging on to it.


I am honest with my guys, I tell them your wasted time is hurting you and me - more money you make me, more I am going to pay you and sky is the limit. So with you dicking around on your phone, you are taking money out of your pocket. All it takes is one huge mistake and it could literally sink me, then they will be out of a job - and nobody wants that, we have too much fun here. They are respectful and understanding. . .

[mooseman]

I have a customer who owns a very large business, I mean the guy is a Phd or how ever you say it has multiple patents and the like. He said something to me that I fully agree with...it goes like this...:"when you are the boss you get to make the rules"
I would call a meeting, stop the whole show, bring EVERYBODY and I mean EVERYBODY together . Vocalize the policy and hand them all two copies of a  company letter stating the same detail as the speach, require all to keep one copy and initial & return the second copy as acknowledgement of receipt / review.

My letter would go something like this........ as of 8:00AM monday there will be absolutely no smoking or use of personel phones or other communication devices on company production time defined as xxxAM to XXXXX PM on normal work days.
 This includes, but not limited to  texting, gaming, ordinary phone conversations,  web surfing. Emergency contacts should be made through the company phone number 123 456 7890. The company phone is always available any time  to all personnel who need to make outgoing calls of urgent matters.

Anyone who feels this is  unacceptable or has a  need to access  a personal  phone or other personal electronic device on company production time  should see me immediately so we can understand your need on a one to one basis.
Thank you ...STRONG LETTER TO FOLLOW!!!!!!!!
mooseman
Please initial the second copy of this letter to indicate your receipt and understanding of this new company requirement and see me if you have any further questions.   

[mk162]

We call it the golden rule...he who has the gold, makes the rules.

[Im-Magic]

Had an Apprentice last year who could not go without using his phone for more than 5 minutes, so I told him our policy was no use of personal phones during work time. He started going to the toilet every 10 minutes (thinking I would not notice). I gave him a choice - The Phone or the Job and he chose the Phone.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Had an Apprentice last year who could not go without using his phone for more than 5 minutes, so I told him our policy was no use of personal phones during work time. He started going to the toilet every 10 minutes (thinking I would not notice). I gave him a choice - The Phone or the Job and he chose the Phone.

As mentioned by others, no tolerance for cell usage during work hours. They will eventually print a 1000 shirts  wrong or loose a hand. Both are bad for the business owner.

These are the same people that make you miss the stop light signal cycle because they were too busy texting while waiting in front of you at the light. Ug.
If I was a cop, these are the people I throw on the hood as I write them up.

[Command-Z]

Why is this even a question? And why is there an underlying feeling among employees on the job, students in the classroom, people at the dinner table, people already in a face-to-face conversation and people driving a F__KING CAR that this it's OK to divide your attention?

Put the damn thing away. The messages that were not important before cell phones were invented are still not so important that you need to interrupt what you are doing.

On a related note, I really don't like this concept of "multi-tasking." Instead of having more people (jobs) doing things right, let's have fewer people doing more things crappy. Next to "crowdsourcing," this has got to be the worst idea to come from the business-seminar think tanks in the past two decades.

OMFG WTF?

[mk162]

When I multi-task, it just means I screw more things up at 1 time.

[Artelf2xs]

Jamming a cell phone is a federal violation of FCC Federal Communications Commission laws...
I'd probably tell them it is a problem that is costing the company money and I may need to access fines as such.
Then when I see them yaking on the phone while on the press, I's make the P-A SQUEEEL!!!! or say something funny about the possible content of the texting to embarrass them in front of the others..
I'm a prick!