Do many workplaces not allow mobile phones ?

[mikehammer69]

I know schools do it but I’ve only just heard of it for routine work

I think they don’t want anyone filming inside

 

[mikehammer69]

As in you have to hand over the phone on workplace entry

It goes in a box until work is finished

 

[Mottie]

Because you’re there to work, not surf the web or chat with friends or go on Facebook or or or….

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I once worked at a place where phones with cameras weren't allowed. But this was in the early 2000s, they weren't yet included on every phone. They were starting to work out it would be a problem.

To be honest, if I employed people I'd want them to lock their phones away. Too many people spend their paid working hours mucking around on them these days. Many people are absolutely addicted to them, so need physical removal.

 

[mikehammer69]

That’s a large part of the problem

Is there any actual legislation covering this issue

Probably just a workplace makes the rules and take or leave it

 

[mikehammer69]

There was a couple of things going on with schools

They were taking away the mobiles so they could teach

Then they we’re replacing the blackboard with laptops and that hasn’t worked out

The students were using the laptops for everything except schoolwork

 

[Highway Man]

I work on the streets. We have to have a phone as part of our job. We actually get paid to use our own phones. Win win.

 

[mikehammer69]

..

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I'd say as long as there's a means of anyone getting hold of you in an emergency, e.g. a switchboard that could get hold of you within a few minutes, then it's absolutely fine.

There are too many rights and entitlements these days. If you're in paid time then you should be working, so have no need of a pocket distraction device.

But for someone working independently then it's a benefit to the employer. Provided that the work is measurable, i.e. you can somehow check that they're actually doing stuff. E.g. that light bulbs get changed etc. Most employers with vans have trackers, so they could see if you weren't moving or were parked in the pub.

 

[Mottie]

I'd say as long as there's a means of anyone getting hold of you in an emergency, e.g. a switchboard that could get hold of you within a few minutes, then it's absolutely fine.

There are too many rights and entitlements these days. If you're in paid time then you should be working, so have no need of a pocket distraction device.

But for someone working independently then it's a benefit to the employer. Provided that the work is measurable, i.e. you can somehow check that they're actually doing stuff. E.g. that light bulbs get changed etc. Most employers with vans have trackers, so they could see if you weren't moving or were parked in the pub.

Mts Mottie used to work for the NHS and there were some pìss takers when they were allowed to work from home. One thing a few people she worked with admitted to, was buying a 'mouse mover' so that it looked like they were working when in fact they were taking the kids to school, out shopping or even popping down to the gym! Others would come in to work and spend the first 45 minutes on Facebook or chatting online to friends.

I myself had one worker who was always on the phone. I gave him a warning - no more phone calls in work. I gave him ten minutes, watched him at the other end of the workshop on the cctv, withheld my number and called him. He answered, I told him to come to the office and made him hand his phone in. He didn’t like it.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Yeah, I've always worked when working, I supervise myself strictly if someone else is paying me for my time. But that doesn't seem to be the modern attitude, sadly.

My other half works from home, but she's basically as good as not here while working. But her colleagues have kids at home, one is even home-schooling their kids while being paid to work supposedly full-time.

If you're working from home and have kids then you should be paying a child-minder, just as you would if working at a workplace.

 

[motorbiking]

When I did secure/secret stuff we had to hand our mobiles in and I've had plenty of corporate secure meetings where even notebooks were banned.

 

[Koolpc]

I have to keep my mobile on me 24/7 fully charged and ready to take a call at a moments notice!!

I guess that's part of being a test pilot for Airfix. Always on call....

 

[Tigercubrider]

My jobs (since they existed) have always relied on having a mobile, despite some areas being a bitch to get a signal in.
For ages in my last building,,there were no landline phones other than internet based telephony.
So no emergency phones, and limited ability to use a mobile unless you left the building.
Sod all use if you’re trapped under something or break a leg.

But a mate worked for a computer company who did some government work and there was a very strict rule about having no phone on you in certain areas.

I have always been treated like an adult and trusted to not be silly about phones. I realise that maybe some people take the pee.

 

[crystal ball]

Mobile phones were banned on a GSK site I worked on, explosion risk, as were all personal multimeters , battery operated kit etc, every thing was intrinsically safe apart from when it was the only method, usually surrounded by firemen, I served my time at a shipyard working on defence contracts, cameras were banned then, surprisingly when I returned for a short contract mobile phones were allowed apart from sensitive areas