[Closed] Young workers and smart phones

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

"Only 31".

How's the arthritis grandad?

Has anyone told him this?

Whereas dicking about on Singletrack all day is far more productive?

I have also heard of people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process.

I'm sure this is some kind of -ism.

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office

thats because they have a camera on...

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

What about the kids?

I must admit, if I was footing the wages bill, I'd discipline staff for excessive use of smartphones.

people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process

that's a bit strong - I have my smartphone hooked up to work email and my work calendars and I use it for my task lists.

maybe better to look at their frequency of texting during the working day.

thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine. Im in a work field where that isnt a problem and there is no reason to ban them other than to stop skiving

I spend all day working with 16-19 year olds. I find asking them to put their phone away helps. Have you tried this?

I went to gym recently which was pretty busy at the time. Not a problem apart from the fact that half the people taking up bench/machine space were texting instead of exercise (if it makes any difference, I am old so my opinion may not count).

Gunz - that's called "textercise" - get down with the kids dude.

What about the kids?

Playing Angry Birds.

We've just published a policy on the use of 'media devices' including smartphones at work - basically, you can't except during break time(s).

It's a management issue though really isn't it? Set out the policy and then manage people if they don't adhere to it.

MObile phones - most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time - I know of people dismissed for it as well

had they been employed for more or less than 12 months Uncle Jezzer? 😉

I went to gym recently which was pretty busy at the time. Not a problem apart from the fact that half the people taking up bench/machine space were texting instead of exercise (if it makes any difference, I am old so my opinion may not count).

I do this between sets, makes the 90 seconds pass quicker!

The irony of middle aged folk posting on STW about this during work hours is super..yes the yoofs have a lot to learn from us ....mainly about not getting caught.

It makes sense why they offer something like 3000 texts/month with a phone contract, these kids use more.

Data is way cheaper than voice.

Oh, and if you have a problem with it, take him to one side and have a word and explain why it's an issue. If it persists, have a quiet word with his old man.

FWIW I have a smart phone. It's the one provided to me by work.

MObile phones - most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time - I know of people dismissed for it as well

Mental 😯

As per TurnerGuy, I get all my work email through my phone and even sometimes use it to Remote Desktop or Telnet into work PCs.

More to the point: shouldn't employees be measured on actual performance rather than setting rules about phone usage, internet usage, coffee breaks, time spent on the loo etc etc etc

binners - Member

had they been employed for more or less than 12 months Uncle Jezzer?

🙂 don't matter - it was in the contract.

"thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine"

Thats a stupid comment

They can probably multitask better than you anyway. I can be doing work plus organising trail builds etc using my phone.

Your just scared of the young pushing you out old man. Just because you can only do 1 thing at a time doesnt mean they can.

In my work it's all about innovation and meeting targets rather than being at a desk all day looking busy but doing f all. My old man doesn't understand why I'm allowed to work from home as "they can't see you sitting working".

Times have changed in lots of cases and the workplace is one. He could be using his phone to do stuff you havent a clue about.

Times have changed in lots of cases and the workplace is one. He could be using his phone to do stuff you havent a clue about.

We're back to Angry Birds

FunkyDunc - Member

"thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine"
Thats a stupid comment

My mate has a factory and his nightshift staff where constantly on their phones posting on facebook and texting after twice calling in the 6 teenage culprits(no probs with the older staff)they still carried on posting he installed a signal jammer plugged it into light switch timer so it now switches off during their breaks

Sounds more like a case of a young guy, possibly in his first job, needs to be managed and given some structure not just allowed to carry on doing personal stuff all day. OK I'd kind of hope they already knew it wasn't acceptable behaviour but if they need telling then do so.

The irony of middle aged folk posting on STW about this during work hours is super..yes the yoofs have a lot to learn from us ....mainly about not getting caught.

I used to use this in my old job. 😯

Ghostzilla browser for Windows is a tool that shields you from the looks of people around you, when they try to see if you are surfing the Web.

With Ghostzilla, they see your normal work screen. You see the Web page, drawn to appear inside your work application and to look like that application to a bystander.

If someone comes too close, move the mouse away from the Web page and it disappears, leaving the original application frame. When the coast clears, another mouse move brings Ghostzilla and the Web page back inside your application.

The browser always has only one window, framed in your work application, but you can surf multiple pages at once in different tabs. Needless to say, popup ads can't exist. You are not even bothered by the in-page ads -- any non-tiny image is hidden unless you hover the mouse over its frame.

It uses a clever approach that completely integrates the browser interface into virtually any application interface as well as Windows Explorer.

In addition, it changes the web page colors and appearance to a discreet black and white document style that nicely blends with most business type documents. Even if your boss was standing right behind you, he would probably never suspect, that what you re looking at is a live web page.

"thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine"

Thats a stupid comment

TandemJeremy - Member
MObile phones - most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time - I know of people dismissed for it as well

What is it like working in North Korea?

thegman67 - Member
My mate has a factory and his nightshift staff where constantly on their phones posting on facebook and texting after twice calling in the 6 teenage culprits(no probs with the older staff)they still carried on posting he installed a signal jammer plugged it into light switch timer so it now switches off during their breaks

Interesting since it's illegal to jam signals...
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement/spectrum-enforcement/jammers/

FWIW, TJ loves North Korea - appeals to his authoritarian streak... 😉

glenh - its healthcare. Its a standard part of the contract. No mobile phones in works time. Its common in the sector if not universal

TJ+1

no phones in forensic units and prisons either, no cameras around kids etc which means no phones with cameras, and as another example a friend who worked for AWE (atomic weapons establishment IIRC) wasnt allowed a phone with a camera either.

mrsconsequence not being allowed a phone in the prison has meant despite her starting a new, daunting and emotional job.. i haven't had to deal with any upset calls or texts 😀

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

For a multitude of very good reasons

I have a mate who uses twitter constantly throughout his working day. I know this because his twitter feed is publically viewable by just googling his name.

A good 60% of the tweets are moaning about his job, how he hates it and all the miserable mundane tasks he has to do. I'm amazed he hasn't been sacked especially as he has freely admitted that he has already had several warnings etc due to his piss poor performance.

I can only assume they haven't yet bothered to google his name as he would surely be fired on the spot. I've told him this but he hasn't changed his public viewing profile which I assume on twitter you can do.

Anyway he's 31 years old so not really a 'young worker'.

We've had an issue with a member of staff using all sorts of cover to hide her phone usage, having it in an open bag on her desk, sitting incorrectly (office staff have been advised on correct posture) i.e. with the back of the chair to the side, to shield usage, hiding it behind a peace lilly too! They've been told about this and they then complain to other members off staff about "I've got to sit properly now" or I'm not allowed my bag on the desk" failing to mention the reason she's been asked to refrain from those actions, making management out to be nasty about it. There is a no personal mobile phone policy in place. Funny that the person she complains too is the one who raised the concern in the first place.

Jesus I'm glad I don't work where you guys with the draconian policies work. Where I work we are all allowed smartphones, unlimited web usage etc, we can bring in our own ipads and laptops and hook them up to the company-provided wifi (on an ADSL line) to keep them off the corporate network. It works because we're trusted not to take the piss.

And why cant young'uns just make a quick call to save sending a gazillion texts? It makes sense why they offer something like 3000 texts/month with a phone contract, these kids use more.

Personally prefer texts as they allow much more flexibility. Why call someone for a couple of minutes, totally disrupting what I'm doing at the time, making a noise in a place where it's not necessarily appropriate or discussing something I don't want discussed in work when a short flurry of 10 word texts does the same job and allows me to break for no more than a second or so per text. Add to that the fact that texts are saved and answered as and when the recipient chooses rather than having to be answered or ignored on the spot, it's a far more efficient way of multi-tasking.

That said, I know how frustrating it is to have people lost in texting when you're talking to them. But that's basic manners, nothing to do with the phone.

As for judging people in interviews by their phone - I'd have thought that was potentially illegal and is utterly stupid.

Jesus I'm glad I don't work where you guys with the draconian policies work. Where I work we are all allowed smartphones, unlimited web usage etc, we can bring in our own ipads and laptops and hook them up to the company-provided wifi (on an ADSL line) to keep them off the corporate network. It works because we're trusted not to take the piss.

+1, I guess company policy is generally dictated by the general practice of the employees though - if you're proven to be trustworthy you'll be trusted, generally, though some just refuse to have the trouble of making the judgement.

glenh - its healthcare. Its a standard part of the contract. No mobile phones in works time. Its common in the sector if not universal

Cant be that universal, I was in A&E the other day, sat next to the "no mobiles" sign, with two doctors walking around on their mobiles.

I have also heard of people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process.

I'd be happy to be discounted in this manner. I don't like working for stupid people.

I wouldn't worry about it. Give it two years and they won't be able to employ anyone under 60. Or bankrupt due to only employing luddites

Cant be that universal, I was in A&E the other day, sat next to the "no mobiles" sign, with two doctors walking around on their mobiles.

Isn't that "mobile phones affect sensitive equipment" basically b-ll-cks?

I'd be happy to be discounted in this manner. I don't like working for stupid people.

Quite. And, to add to that, I'm pleased I paid attention at school so that I don't have to have the sort of job where this sort of thing is (1) checked on or (b) matters.

Oh, and the biggest smart phone user I know is... my mother. Who is 66 and retired. She's managed to get RSI in her thumbs from too much texting and emailing.

randomjeremy - Member
Jesus I'm glad I don't work where you guys with the draconian policies work. Where I work we are all allowed smartphones, unlimited web usage etc, we can bring in our own ipads and laptops and hook them up to the company-provided wifi (on an ADSL line) to keep them off the corporate network. It works because we're trusted not to take the piss.

Same here, I wouldn't want to work in an organisation that didn't trust it's employees to be sensible with their phone/web usage 🙄

+1

The company has employed someone who's not doing their job properly. If you took their phone away they'd just find something else to distract them. Its just the modern equivalent of talking round the water cooler or discussing last nights football match etc. Really don't think these draconian bans are going to do anything other than annoy productive employees whilst the lazy ones continue distracting themselves with other means.

Just wish they could ban the things in shops, you get to the till and some woman usually decides to phone up somebody to look if theyve got enough bog rol or something else in the cupboard.

or theyre ther yapping in the middle of an isle, for all to hear whenn you cant get past.

And, to add to that, I'm pleased I paid attention at school so that I don't have to have the sort of job where this sort of thing is (1) checked on or (b) matters.

OI! sum ov us nurses payed atenshun in skool 😛

I used to work for a woman who brought her 17 year old son in as "one of us" (we were a Microsoft house at the time), and the expectation was that we would train him up as something a bit useful.

Fair dos. But he was, frankly rubbish, shiftless, a poor communicator, and generally not much cop.

We eventually revolted when it transpired that, rather than get him up out of his bed when she set off for the office, she was berthing him in a local hotel very near the office. Think thats not too bad? Well, we were expected to draw up a rota to drive the 2 miles or so to the hotel every morning to pick him up and get him into work!

Just wish they could ban the things in shops,

... specifically, their usage by the assistants behind the tills.

Grum your old IT dep must have had a piss poor system if they allowed you to install software on your machine!!

I would hate to work in an environment where people think its acceptable to spend time they are being paid for on their personal phones.

My bet would be the doctors yo saw were using hospital mobiles - used instead of pagers these days. I would be very suprised if it was a personal mobile. The ban is pretty comprehensive and adhered to

+1 hes a young kid who needs a bit of guidance.
i think that as a functioning member of society you have a responsibility to help him- tell him its not acceptable, explain why. someone did that for you at some point, and if you dont remember that happening it just means it was done well.
or just become an old git complaining that the world has changed and your bitter about it cos 'it wasnt like this in my day'

Sorry to disappoint TJ but it isn't that comprehensive, most wards in our trust (South Tees), and others I've seen, even patients allowed use as they tie up the ward lines less being able to use own phone to update people. Also it is unfortunately common for our ITU ward round to be interrupted either by consultant answering their's ( usually about something life saving like a childcare issue) or other consultants wandering through on theirs.

Our hospital hasn't gone to DECT phones unfortunately still use old skool bleeps.

Also in Northern Ireland mobiles pretty widespread in clinical environments as seen when visiting brother in law recently.
I believe old concerns of unshielded pumps/ drivers being affect not major problem anymore, could be wrong mind.

I wonder how many people on here that think no phones in work is abhorrent would be happy waiting for the checkout operator in tesco to finish texting her mate before attending to them.
Surely if a firm is paying for your time then they should have a say in what you can and cannot do (within reason)

Grum your old IT dep must have had a piss poor system if they allowed you to install software on your machine!!

They may well have been (uni admin) but you didn't have to install Ghostzilla, it would run off a pen drive 😉

TandemJeremy - Member
I would hate to work in an environment where people think its acceptable to spend time they are being paid for on their personal phones.

Could you imagine that? An environment where people have lives, are human beings and don't perform like robots from 9:00 to 17:00!
Perish the thought.

I was given a warning about 15 odd years ago for connecting my company phone line up to the internet. I wonder if they've grasped the idea that the internet and email is quite useful for business. To those that have blanket bans and lack of foresight, I both point and laugh at you.

I'm a new user here but i would like to just comment on this particular post.
I personally own a cheap 10 quid phone which i use for texting people if im not at home.
I dont see the need to be connected to everything 24 hours a day, to me work is work and once its over you can call text or whatever as much as you want, and its not like you dont get breaks.

where I work nobody spent hardly any time fiddling with smartphones until the company gave everybody free smartphones.

's habit, isn't it.

We managed for years without phones, now I leave home without mine and it feels like my right arm's missing.

i bet the company are kicking themselves bonj, or do they have ''apps'' for that 😆

TandemJeremy - Member
... My bet would be the doctors yo saw were using hospital mobiles - used instead of pagers these days. I would be very suprised if it was a personal mobile. The ban is pretty comprehensive and adhered to

Some also answer their bleeps from their mobiles to save queueing for a free phone on the wards

Grum your old IT dep must have had a [i]sensible admin[/i] [s]piss poor system[/s] if they [i]trusted[/i] [s]allowed[/s] you to install software on your machine!!

FTFY

I would hate to work in an environment where people think its acceptable to spend time they are being paid for on their personal phones.

I work in an environment where I'm not paid for my time, but to do a job and where I'm trusted to be professional.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. Surely it's no worse than sneaking off for a fag?

Interesting thread this - I got busted at work for excessive internet use* on the PC earlier this year - written warning, would have been worse except that all the stats showed I was the most productive in the country 😆 The senior manager who handled the hearing admitted that they had no idea how they could monitor smartphone usage and they thought that this was a huge issue in the next year or two.

*Conversation as follows:

Manager: You spend 1 hour 38 mins on average per day looking at the ...er...Singletrackworld website....

Me(mentally): Phew! Is that all?

hmmmm, waiting for the day here

(in one of my jobe I use firefox with multiple tabs and the stw ones refresh every 10 or 15 min so that it's "current" when I do open one. To them I guess it looks like I'm constantly reading it)

I would hate to work in an environment where people think its acceptable to spend time they are being paid for on their personal phones.

My bet would be the doctors yo saw were using hospital mobiles - used instead of pagers these days. I would be very suprised if it was a personal mobile. The ban is pretty comprehensive and adhered to

Could have been a work mobile I guess, one did look like an iphone though.

I work in an environment where I'm not expected to keep regular hours, though I'm expected to put in certain amount of hours. Generally I put in twice as many hours as I'm expected to (by choice) and I'm available 24/7 via email or phone for anyone at work who needs to contact me. If I want to take 2 mins to do something personal during the day it's not frowned upon - at the end of the day if the job is done and the deadline met no-one complains.

I would be very suprised if it was a personal mobile. The ban is pretty comprehensive and adhered to

MrsDrGrahamS sat next to me shaking her head. She takes her phone (iphone) to work, as do most docs at her gaff.

But yeah, obviously she doesn't have the time to sit and facebook/text on it all day long and often just leaves it in the office.

Nothing in her contract about it either.

Most if not all of our ITU docs use mobiles at work, and I'd far rather ring them than try any number of extensions to get them in a critical situation.
Mobiles don't affect medical machines, at all.

TandemJeremy - Member
MObile phones - most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time - I know of people dismissed for it as well

Ive dismissed Two youths over Mobiles phones
Thought they could sit down on sites after brining furniture in for installation
and txt and made calls, shared pics and jokes
I couldn't believe the looks on there faces when I returned from a cash machine
and gave them there pay.

Isn't that "mobile phones affect sensitive equipment" basically b-ll-cks?

we have some equipment that registers incoming texts during analysis which buggers it up. we have a blanket ban on phones on site, but we have a massive tank farm of solvents, work with lots of flammable powders so nothing that isn't Ex rated goes anywhere near.

about all that is left are nmr's and the bogs....

i wouldn't want a phone near an nmr.

"TJ doesn't have a mobile phone and therefore they are crap and nobody else should either" shocker......

Phhhhhhhhhhh 🙄

FACT.