Office Cell Phone Ban Needed?

Is there an appropriate place to talk on your cell phone at work?  I've made several calls today, from several different locations, and have come to the answer - a resounding 'NO.'

AT YOUR DESK: Using the business phone for 'personal business' is frowned upon, but using your cell at your desk is a tell-tale sign that you are not working. Worse yet, you're inclined to distract others from their work. Way to go team player!

IN THE BATHROOM: Just plain creepy.  The concept of the work bathroom (which should be upgraded) is simple: do your business, wash your hands, and move on.  I work with a guy who texts while peeing, and that's just plain wrong.  I'm no scientist, but the likelihood for some nasty germ transfer must be paramount.

IN THE BREAKROOM: Look around.  There are people eating, sleeping, reading and writing. Do you really think they want to spend the lousy few minutes of "me" time they get listening to you blab? 

IN THE HALLWAY: The human race is not very good at doing two things at once.  Odds are that cell phone talkers will saunter and pace, therefore getting in the way of the hallway's pruprose - to let people move from area to area.

THE PARKING LOT:  Leaving the building creates a problem.  The one time you do it, someone will be "looking all over for you."  There seems to be a double standard; smokers can step outside when the habit calls, but non-smokers have trouble justifying the excursion.

THE ROOF: If your job is anything like mine, they keep the roof door locked - for good reason!

When push comes to shove, there is not an appropriate place to use your cell phone at the office.

What do you think?

Comments

[HarveyG]

I agree whole-heartedly with your closing comment. My company hosted (four years) an incubating startup firm.... a couple of guys with cell phones and no desk phones at first. We had to raise the issue of using cell phones in the bathroom MORE than once. And these were sales guys (i.e. hand-shakers). I can't imagine what their clients thought when we flushed the toilet.

[Eric B]

The flip side being with so many offices banning access to Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and other sites, the mobile phone is becoming the only way to stay connected. Because, after all, the expectation has also become that there is no such thing as an eight hour day with a lunch break; so, the mobile phone has become my only connection to the outside world from sun up to sun down.

[Andrew G. Rosen]

@Eric B - I might know an employer like that. ;-)

[Jake]

Mobile phone etiquette is a tricky beast. People's perception of polite seems to be null and void when it comes to cell phones. It's basically a no-win situation.

[Nancy]

It has never entered my mind to use a cell in the bathroom. I was highly offended recently when people assumed that my cell + water mishap occurred there. It was the washer... :-(

[Neha]

Yes in office cell phones should be banned.Because it gives a bad impact on work.I heard a review from one job portal http://www.naukriforwomen.com/

[kaylynn]

Be careful when using a company phone like we have to at my job so we can stay in touch through 2 way because they will do a reverse cell phone lookup on you if you're not careful. http://www.computeruser.com/blogs/entry/reverse-phone-lookup-reverse-cell-phone-lookup-directory/

[MAB]

Cell phones should be banned from every office. If there's am emergency, people know where you work.

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[ryantyler111]

• The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
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[business mobile packages]

Yes, I also agree with Mr MAB, Cell phones should be banned from every office.

[rori]

I am heading into my business tonight and I am putting an end to cell phone use in my building. The texting is out of control. It totally distracts my employee's from what they should be doing. I asked them not to have there phones on at work, if there is an emergency, have your child, mother , babysitter etc. call the office and they will get a message. WTF did the world do before being connected 24/7? It is my time they are on and when they get a text from the boyfriend it always ends up a disaster. I am in a people business where my employees have to be on there game. How many dead grandmothers can an employee have??

[Jen]

I much prefer people use their cell phones (maybe in the hallway, rather than at their desk right next to me) than that they receive personal calls on the laboratory's phone lines. Those calls interupt me and then I have to go find the person and tell them they have a phone call (obviously personal) -- please USE your cell phone, but keep it to a minimum when you should be working.