Personal Cell Phones at work

Dups. · Post by **Dups.** » July 5, 2005, 12:49 pm

I am seeing this more and more. People bring in their personal cell phones to work. They have the cellphone on though. Not on vibrate.

Do you think it's ok?

Noysyrump · Post by **Noysyrump** » July 5, 2005, 12:55 pm

guess that depends entirely on what kind of woork you do... librarians should NOT... =)

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » July 5, 2005, 12:56 pm

I see no problem with it, you never know when an emergency will come up. It should be on vibrate if that funcion is available, if not then as low as it can get. If the worker is on thier cell all the time, then it's time for them to have the "talk" by their supervisor. It should always be turned off during meetings, even vibrate is a distractor during those.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » July 5, 2005, 1:16 pm

Given that my work cell and personal cell are one and the same, it'd be kinda hard for me to not bring it.

Mr Bacon · Post by **Mr Bacon** » July 5, 2005, 1:20 pm

I keep mine on vibrate. If someone calls me I let it ring and stop, open the phone when appropriate and leave the room/building and make the call elsewhere.

I don't mind vibrate at all, but people who have their stupid ass ringers on (and let's face it, all ringers are embarassing) piss me off. Honestly I could care less if they even answered there, as long as they kept it low volume (voice) and i wasn't distracted from posting like this.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » July 5, 2005, 1:24 pm

When I was supervising in teh corporate world, I was always fine with them on and on vibrate for emergency use. Most people are, however, distracted by them on a regular basis. People seem not to understand what constitutes an emergency. I need bread when you come home is not an emergency...

So our group opted for off at all times unless we were previously notified of a situation which might require rapid communication (ie imminent birth/death etc).

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » July 5, 2005, 1:48 pm

No problem here except those obliviots who:

A. Leave thier cellphones at thier desk when they walk away
B. Have loud/annoying ringtones. Dance party anyone?
C. Both, as just happened one minute ago....

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » July 5, 2005, 1:55 pm

I dont fully understand the "in case of an emergency" argument.

I mean...dont these people have work numbers they can be reached at in case of an emergency? Unless youre out on a job site and away from the office I see no reason to have your personal cell phone turned on during business hours. Youre there to work, not to socialize or make plans for the weekend.

Your personal life can wait until you get off work.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » July 5, 2005, 2:18 pm

I am not a fan of the cell phone and refuse to give in to the hype. I admit I do have a cell phone though. I carry it with me but never have it on. I only turn it on when I need to call someone.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » July 5, 2005, 2:27 pm

yeah i could do without the goofy ringtones, but as long as they're not abused i don't see a problem with it. it's no different than having your personal calls come to your desk phone, which happened a lot where i used to work. at least if you have your cell phone you can take your personal conversation outside and not distract everyone around you while you yell at your kids or chat with your spouse or whatever.

Llaffer · Post by **Llaffer** » July 5, 2005, 2:37 pm

I've never owned a cell phone, and likely never will unless my job demands it.

I work in the Telecom group of a call center handling a number of high-named private label and dual (cards with a visa or MC on it) credit cards.

Cell Phones used to be usable on the floor as long as you're off the clock when you use them, but with so many phones having digital camera capabilities, they are now forbidden on our floors.

They don't want anyone taking pictures of credit card numbers, then selling them to people who would commit fraud against us and our cardholders.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 5, 2005, 6:11 pm

i don't think you should be able to pick up calls while working... but i support being able to have a cell on silent or vibrate so at least you aren't clueless as to whats going on outside, and can text/call on break...

a ringtone blaring in the office should be worthy of getting written up.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » July 5, 2005, 6:39 pm

I agree with Homercles.

I have a cell phone (which is coincidentally my only personal phone). I bring it to work, but I turn it off and keep it stashed away until work is over.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 5, 2005, 7:10 pm

who thinks it is NOT ok?

lol companies should be more worried about people using work phones as personal phones.

Aneron · Post by **Aneron** » July 5, 2005, 7:12 pm

Due to the nature of my work and those in the office with me. Personal cell phones are typically used as business phones too, so it is common practice to have them with you and vibrate isn't required.

Neost · Post by **Neost** » July 5, 2005, 7:57 pm

i work for a wireless carrier. We want all of you to carry multiple phones 24x7x365 and use teh shit out of them please. Add every service we offer at nominal additional charges and be sure to send thousands of text messages.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » July 5, 2005, 11:17 pm

my text/pix/messenger use is FREE =-D

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » July 6, 2005, 10:39 am

i leave mine on full blast at my cube... my ring is the governator going UP DOWN UP DOWN with some song in the background, it's hot.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » July 6, 2005, 10:42 am

Drasta wrote:my text/pix/messenger use is FREE =-D

Nothing is Free...

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » July 6, 2005, 11:59 am

Arborealus wrote:
Drasta wrote:my text/pix/messenger use is FREE =-D
Nothing is Free...

I was going to say that. especially not from wireless phone companies. you're paying for it someplace.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » July 6, 2005, 8:37 pm

Voronwë wrote:who thinks it is NOT ok?

lol companies should be more worried about people using work phones as personal phones.

No kidding

Seriously, it all depends on how accessable you need to be as situations just don't lend themselves to "Please call me back, kk?"

Vibrate the thing, it's there for a reason. Times change. Thinking it doesn't need to be used because it's never had to be used before is ignorant. One of my old offices used to send paper telegrams throughout the building via tubes you see if you use the drive-through at the bank. "Ohh jesus, what the fuck is this e-mail nonsense, it's so stupid. I'd rather send a fucking case through a tube to someone in my company, or better yet, could you fax that to me on thermal paper. Yeah, I love to waste my time photocopying".

Just vibrate the thing. If it's personal, try and sequester yourself, if anything, to make sure the huns don't dig into your personal life. You don't need it, fine.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » July 6, 2005, 9:48 pm

A lot of this depends on what you do for a living, as others have mentioned. Most of the people I work with use cells as work tools with some personal benefit, but there are so many people that display absolutely no common sense with their cells... If you work in environment where you can still perform your function on the phone, I could care less. If it impairs it somewhat, then don't get carried away with it. If you are in retail, etc. leave the bloody thing in your car/home/jacket: your position means you need to be seen as accessible to your customers.

I HATE cells with those stupid 30 sec song rings. I HATE it when people invite you to lunch/dinner and spend all the time on it. People with cells in movie theatres should be shot: I don't care if you're a Dr on call, see the movie when you're not.

Doing field work in various industries means that you're stuck with a cell a lot of the time, whether you like them or not. When I was in that position, my friends/GF knew that some calls were OK but not to get carried away... my position was fairly independant though, and my office was my vehicle a good 80% of the time. Doing project/engineering in an office, I know people that carry a cell with them all the time, sometimes you're able to forward it to a land line but sometimes not and if people need to get in touch with you, a lot of the time people don't care what number as long as they can talk to ya.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » July 6, 2005, 11:25 pm

I worked with a bunch of people before that left theirs at their desk with the pseudo-sylistic Mozart of Beethoven tunes as the ringer. OH WOW I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE!!!!1! Of course, all of these folks only used their cells for personal use and it was irritating.

That was when I countered with my (at the time) cheap cell phone ring on high with the 'french police siren' ring. That did the trick.

Keep that shit on vibrate or in your pocket.

DEEE DOOO DEEE DOOO DEEE DOOO DEEE DOOO DEEEE DOOOO DEEEE DOOOO

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » July 6, 2005, 11:50 pm

rofl Canno! wtg!

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » July 7, 2005, 12:46 am

Most phones are getting to where you don't even have to open the damn thing to change the volume.

Put that shit on vibrate.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » July 7, 2005, 1:31 am

Once again... I agree with Voronwe.

Personally what kind of goofy fucktard carries 2 cell phones unless they are "on-call" and have to carry the work one. Everyone I know has 1 phone that is used for both personal and business. If it's more personal they pay for it, if it's more business, the company pays for it. If people need to reach me, whether it work or pleasure I want them to have 1 number.

Marb

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 7, 2005, 3:29 am

Your avatar makes me think of this picture Marb!

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » July 7, 2005, 4:28 am

Now where were those "female" storm troopers when we needed them?

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » July 7, 2005, 5:09 am

Winnow wrote:

Fairly certain that's not canon!

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » July 7, 2005, 9:13 am

No. When you are at work, you are at work. Everyone who is important to you knows when you are at work and should know your work number to call if they need to reach you in an emergency.

Post by **Sylvus** » July 7, 2005, 12:49 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:No. When you are at work, you are at work. Everyone who is important to you knows when you are at work and should know your work number to call if they need to reach you in an emergency.

Sure, that's easy for you to say. Your friends can just call you at work and order a large pie with extra anchovies and you'll understand the code.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » July 8, 2005, 6:16 pm

Put it on vibrate, if it doesn't interfere with your business or annoy your neighbors who cares?

Neost wrote:i work for a wireless carrier. We want all of you to carry multiple phones 24x7x365 and use teh shit out of them please. Add every service we offer at nominal additional charges and be sure to send thousands of text messages.

I agree with this completely. Suck down lots of bandwidth sending stupid pictures, files, etc.. too. Make those carriers upgrade and improve my bonus

I work for a wireless equipment vendor\manufacturer

i leave mine on full blast at my cube... my ring is the governator going UP DOWN UP DOWN with some song in the background, it's hot.

You'd find your phone in the toilet at my office....

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » July 8, 2005, 6:21 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:No. When you are at work, you are at work. Everyone who is important to you knows when you are at work and should know your work number to call if they need to reach you in an emergency.

I don't think we need an opinion from someone whom nobody ever calls.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 8, 2005, 6:23 pm

Sylvus wrote:
Sure, that's easy for you to say. Your friends can just call you at work and order a large pie with extra anchovies and you'll understand the code.

Loverboy reference!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097790/

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » July 8, 2005, 11:25 pm

omg kyou changed her avatar

VeeshanVault

Personal Cell Phones at work

Should people bring their personal cell phone at work?

Personal Cell Phones at work