Recent research indicates that:
- 55% of distractions in the workplace are caused by mobile phones.
- 75% of employers say that the average employee loses 2 hours a day due to mobile phone distractions.
The loss of productivity due to mobile phones is enormous in most businesses. If you want to know the size of the problem in your business, multiply the average time wasted by the number of employees by their recovery rate per hour (or charge out rate or value to the business rate).
If you have a problem, then it’s time to revisit your mobile phone policy. Modify the policy text below to suit your business, then roll the policy out.
Company XYZ Personal Mobile Phone Policy
Version 1.00
Last amended: 4th Feb 2020
Next Review: 4th Feb 2021
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to provide Company XYZ employees with guidelines regarding personal mobile phone usage within the workplace.
Scope:
This policy outlines the use of personal mobile phones at work.
Responsibility:
All employees of Company XYZ need to be familiar with and follow the guidelines below.
Overview:
General, non-urgent personal mobile phone usage is distracting and is not permitted during paid working time.
Company XYZ does recognise that in some circumstance’s employees may need to make or receive personal telephone calls. In case of urgent matters, the main switch number (07 xxxx xxxx) can be used for both incoming & outgoing calls by employees.
Personal mobile phones in the workplace:
Whilst at work, personal mobile phones are not to be kept on employee desks or used during paid work time. This includes phone calls, texting, emails, surfing the internet and any other function of the phone (for example, Facebook, Twitter, games, etc).
Excessive use of personal mobile phones, or company landline phones for personal reasons, can interfere with an employee’s productivity and be distracting for others.
Employees should restrict their personal calls during work time by only using their mobile phones during scheduled breaks or lunch periods.
Employees are asked to ensure that family and relevant parties (for example, childcare facilities and schools), understand the Company XYZ mobile phone policy and have the office main switch number (07 xxxx xxxx) should an employee need to be contacted during business hours.
Company XYZ will not be liable for the loss of, or damage to personal mobile phones brought into the workplace by employees.
Company XYZ management reserves the right to monitor an employee’s mobile phone usage within the workplace at any time. Disciplinary action may be initiated by management if it is deemed that an employee’s usage of personal mobile phones is inappropriate or impacting on an employee’s performance in the workplace.
