Ask managers about workplace pet peeves and you will likely hear complaints about employee texting on the job. Is a Cell Phone Workplace Etiquette Policy the answer? What about banning cell phones?
Many employers have legitimate concerns about employee personal cell phone use at work. Texting can be a real drain on worker productivity. Before writing up a policy on Cell Phone Workplace Etiquette or implementing a cell phone “ban” it is important to consider a number of factors.
Most employees use their cell phones respectfully at work. People take short breaks through out the day to respond to friends or family and follow up on personal issues. These short breaks are actually good for us and can improve productivity and morale. These breaks are no different than water cooler chats, coffee breaks or other short breaks to get up from your desk and stretch your legs.
Many employees use their cell phones to conduct business. They set up client appointments and follow up with colleagues. Texting is a very efficient way to connect. It is also fast and the preferred method of communication for many workers.
Unfortunately there are some people who have difficulty limiting their texting time to a short break once every hour or two. An employee who engages in hour long texting sessions with a large group of friends is clearly not being productive at work. This behavior is unprofessional and impacts coworkers who witness this employee not working for extended periods of time.
Typically a “ban” on cell phone use at work will backfire. People don’t like bans. They don’t like being treated like children. The reality is, employees who waste time texting will find other ways to waste time at work.
If you focus on the work, your employees and productivity you will not need to implement bans or other draconian workplace rules.
The Type of Work
Some workplaces and jobs will require limiting cell phone use. People who operate vehicles, machinery or equipment and call center or customer service workers are some examples of jobs that demand limiting the use of cell phones while on the job. The use of cell phones while working may violate traffic laws or workplace safety rules. If jobs in your workplace require limiting cell phone use then a policy on Cell Phone Workplace Etiquette may be appropriate.
Your Employees
The younger the workforce the more cell phone use you will encounter. Does this mean you should accept cell phone misuse? Not at all. You set the standards for performance and productivity at your workplace. You may have noticed that some high end retail customer service jobs have highly trained staff who would not consider pulling out their phone in front of a customer, while other organizations have had less success trying to enforce standards around cell phones.
Talk to your clients, customers and employees. Most employees will agree that it is unprofessional to be excessively texting at work. Work together to set standards that make sense for your workplace and your employees.
Productivity
Managing productivity is the answer to many workplace issues – including cell phone misuse. An employee who is wasting time texting, may also waste time making personal calls, take extra long breaks, spend excessive time chatting, and engage in other time wasting activities. As a manager, if you focus on productivity you should be able to identify those people who are not working at a satisfactory level. Set expectations, clearly communicate, provide training and the tools to do the job and follow through after a reasonable time. If people can’t meet your expectations it is time to let them go.
You may find some interesting facts arise from the productivity approach to managing this workplace issue. You may discover that the worst texting offenders in your group are in fact very productive employees. Don’t assume that there is a problem before first checking your facts.
You may wish to develop a policy on Cell Phone Workplace Etiquette or simply reinforce your workplace code of conduct. Read more on this workplace issue at Canadian HR Reporter – Is Cell Phone Use an Employee Right?
