Do you have issues with employees using their cell phones when they shouldn’t (and affecting the efficiency of your work process?) What can you do to prevent the employees’ working time from being wasted while they are on their cell phones?
- The first thing to do is make sure you have a written policy regarding when employees can and/or can’t use their phones. Don’t assume your employees know the policy. Discuss this policy with all new hires at the start of employment.
- Remind employees that their rest periods are their breaks from work and that cell phones may be used during this time.
- If an employee is concerned they’ll receive a call during work hours they just can’t miss, have them discuss with you ahead of time the process to allow them to take this call. Perhaps have them give the time they can take the call to the one whom they are expecting to call, or have them be contacted at the work number. Determining a solution that is reasonable but doesn’t allow the employee access to their cell phone for other purposes is your goal.
- If the employee fails to follow your guidelines, institute progressive discipline. Give a verbal warning for the first offense, a written reprimand for a subsequent offense, and continue progressive discipline up to termination if necessary.
An article published in February 2015 by The Business Times states that if an employee only spends 10 minutes a day on their cell phone during work hours (a conservative figure), that multiplying by 260 (the number of work days in a year) results in 43.3 hours of wasted time per worker. Multiple that by their hourly rate and include payroll tax and worker’s compensation calculations, and what that wasted time costs you can really add up!
Remember that employees have no legal right to bring their electronic devices into the workplace. Employers may restrict cell phone use, or even ban their presence. If your business requires employees to use their own devices for work related duties, talk to a human resources specialist to determine what policies you should institute in regard to their electronic devices. Keep in mind laws can change in your state, so contact an expert in your area if you have questions regarding laws regarding cell phones in the workplace.