Cell Phone Policy At Work [Template]

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Today, cell phones are an important part of everyday life. Your employees most likely carry their cell phones with them into the office and likely keep them nearby throughout the day. Although cell phones can be used as an asset if used correctly, they can also cause distractions and issues when used excessively.

One way to combat this is to develop an employee cell phone policy. A company cell phone policy will make it clear to employees when it’s appropriate or not appropriate to use a cell phone during work hours. These policies may change depending on the industry or job type — for example, a cell phone policy for a delivery driver and an office worker will look different.

Key Takeaways:

• A cell phone policy is a written set of guidelines or rules that refer specifically to cell phone usage in the workplace.

• Cell phone policies can keep employees safe, maintain a professional brand, and ensure productivity remains the focus in the workplace.

• When creating a cell phone policy, be sure you review any relevant regulations in your state, as employee rights may vary by geographical location.

What Is a Cell Phone Policy?

A cell phone policy is a written set of guidelines or rules that refer specifically to cell phone usage in the workplace. These policies can be part of the employee handbook or part of the safety rules you communicate to your new employees when they join the workforce. A cell phone policy can be distributed digitally or as a hard copy.

Why You Should Create a Cell Phone Policy

Since so many people use their cell phones at any point throughout their day, their behaviors may vary drastically. Having a cell phone policy will outline what behaviors are appropriate or inappropriate, making it easy for employees to know the rules once they are on the clock. Here are some other reasons to have a cell phone policy for your employees:

• Keeping your employees safe. Depending on the work environment, your employees may need to concentrate on things like operating heavy machinery. By requiring your employees to keep cell phones away to deter distractions, you are helping to keep them safe on the job.

• Maintaining a professional brand. If you work in an environment where you are interacting with clients on a regular basis, make sure your employees know what appropriate cell phone behavior looks like. If your employee whips out their cell phone in the middle of a meeting, you and your team may be perceived as rude.

• Ensuring productivity remains the focus. By implementing a cell phone policy, employees know when it’s appropriate to browse their phones. This ensures they are focused and working when they’re expected to but also have the freedom to use their personal devices when taking a break.

Considerations When Writing a Cell Phone Policy

Writing a cell phone policy is relatively straightforward, but there are a few things to consider before writing one. First, be sure you review any relevant regulations in your state, as employee rights may vary by geographical location.

Depending on your business, you may want to consider that employees supply their own cell phones for work. However, this also brings another level of consideration, including how you’ll reimburse them for their usage and how they’re required to engage with their device during work hours. This may be most appropriate for remote employees.

You’ll want to consider any safety concerns for employees using the phones at work, as well as any privacy or security concerns, such as connecting to a public Internet service like those at a coffee shop or airport, where potential hackers could obtain sensitive company data.

Finally, you’ll want to consider any guidelines for personal cell phone use and business cell phone use. Many companies opt to provide their employees with a business cell phone which allows them to have broader control over their usage. However, the organization should still consider a reasonable number of personal calls or text messages as a courtesy.

How to Write a Cell Phone Policy

First and foremost, be sure you outline everything you want to include in your policy. Then, communicate your cell phone policy in all relevant channels, including the employee handbook, as part of the onboarding process, on your company intranet or messaging platform, and consider sending out a company-wide email if this is a new policy.

Your cell phone policy should clearly state when and where employees are allowed to use their phones, as well as any consequences for not adhering to the rules. Be sure you think through all considerations depending on your company, including if you have individuals who may need to travel as part of their job.

You should start by outlining the purpose of the policy and what effect it has on the overall company. Next, outline your employee expectations and be sure not to leave room for misinterpretation. If you can provide specifics and examples, even better. And finally, include any disciplinary action that will be taken against employees who do not follow the policy.

Cell Phone Policy Template

Cell Phone Policy FAQ

1. Should cell phones be allowed at work?

   Yes, cell phones should be allowed at work, so long as it doesn’t directly interfere with the business proceedings of an organization.

2. Is a cell phone policy enforceable?

   Yes, a cell phone policy is enforceable so long as it’s enforced in a consistent manner.

3. Can cell phones be banned at work?

   Yes, employers have the right to ban cell phones from work during work hours.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia where she has written 140+ articles that have reached over 1 mil viewers as of June 2023. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research.