Mobile phones are ubiquitous—90% of Irish adults own a smartphone. Tablets and computers also now double up as phones, so it’s difficult for your business to ignore their use on your premises.
With people becoming increasingly reliant on the technology, there’s a growing acceptance that many people need to curb their excessive mobile phone use.
Just as people seek to regulate it in their personal lives, it’s equally important for your business to establish rules to ensure employee mobile phone use at work doesn’t have a negative impact on your business.
Mobile phone use policy in the workplace
Depending on the nature of the roles that are available in your business, you may provide employees with a mobile phone to allow them to carry out their duties.
If this is the case, it's imperative to lay out the ground rules for using them around your business. A mobile phone policy for employees will cover your business’s position on their use, along with various other details.
It’s at your discretion to decide whether or not your company phone policy will prohibit the use of private or personal use. Whatever your rules, they should be clearly laid out in the policy document.
Even if you don’t provide employees with a company mobile phone, it's still a good idea to have a mobile phone policy in the workplace. But then you may want to place some rules and regulations around how your staff use their various devices during working hours.
Prohibiting mobile phone use at work
It's likely that almost all your employees will have a mobile phone. And it's even more likely the phone will be a source of distraction if personal use takes place in or about your premises.
Depending on the nature of the role, you may be in a position to adopt a mobile phone policy at work that permits occasional and limited personal use of mobile phones.
If the job demands a high level of attention to detail, it would be more appropriate to adopt a no mobile phone stance.
Company issued mobile phones
If you issue your employees with company mobile phones, you'll need to regulate the use of those devices.
A company-issued mobile phone policy should outline the correct use of devices to ensure your employees carry out their duties and functions appropriately.
The policy should address issues such as how you'll monitor usage, what activities you permit employees to use their phones for, and health & safety advice where necessary (i.e. for employees who drive).
For the sake of clarity, it’s not uncommon for a mobile phone policy at work to comprehensively list the activities that you won't allow.
This may include behaviour such as:
- Answering or making calls
- Using social media platforms
- Texting friends or family
- Streaming content
Remember, it's quite common for businesses to allow staff members to listen to music while working. Similarly, others will let them enjoy the likes of YouTube as background noise.
Many modern employees will see it as a perk that can fuel their creativity. So, be careful with the policies you implement. You might inadvertently disrupt attempts to attract talent to your business with draconian policies.
Mobile phone allowance for work
If there is a requirement for mobile phone use at work, make employees aware of any allowance they receive for personal use.
Additionally, inform them of the rules for recording personal calls or data charges. If you need reimbursing for anything, you should make them aware of that.
What’s permitted in a mobile phone use at work policy?
Whether you have a no mobile phone use at work policy or a more permissive one, it’s vital to be clear with employees what you do and don't allow.
Your mobile phone usage policy is also likely to tie in with your IT security policies, your confidentiality and privacy policies.
It should also clarify how a staff member should return the device if they're set to leave your business.
Need our help?
You should have a clear policy in place if you are issuing staff with mobile devices. Call us today for further advice and up to date documentation on 0818 923 923.
