The use of cell phones during work has generated constant debate about the best positioning of companies regarding this practice. There are countless setbacks caused between employees and managers, from wasted time and reduced productivity to dismissal for just cause with labor actions between professional and company.
A survey carried out by the Methodist University of São Paulo showed that one in five professionals spends up to 15 minutes every hour on their cell phone during working hours, 25% of the time. This results in a waste of 2 hours per day, considering an 8-hour working day. To calculate the cost to your company of this lost time, you can use this time wastage calculation tool , which allows you to enter the number of employees and the cost per professional.
The company has autonomy and the right to restrict the use of personal cell phones in the workplace, as long as another form of communication is available for emergencies. Any employee who does not follow these guidelines may be notified and even dismissed for just cause. To do this, it is necessary that the employee is aware of the restrictions and respective punishments in case of non-compliance with the rules. The company must prepare a document describing the rules regarding the use of the devices and the respective punishments. Download a template for this document here .
To avoid unpleasant situations and friction between parties, it is recommended that companies have clear and coherently prepared guidelines. On the other hand, professionals must act with common sense and control when using devices, always prioritizing the company's activities and their productivity as a professional.
Productivity and results
Using a cell phone at work does not necessarily lead to a drop in productivity. Therefore, the guidance for managers is to always monitor the execution of activities and monitor the results, the focus must be on production, with the definition of goals and objectives by employee and team. Even because for some activities such as sales and customer service, the cell phone can contribute to the execution of some activities.
Companies must seek to develop a healthy and productive culture for the use of cell phones. For example, educating professionals that publishing photos during work, jokes on social media or personal conversations can harm their performance, but at the same time showing that the conscious use of smartphones can be used to develop contacts and communicate with customers. The use of devices must be focused on the collective benefit between the company and professionals.
Another important point is that directors and leaders must set an example of good use, using devices only to perform company tasks and to communicate with the team, customers or suppliers.
In the case of using cell phones for communication between the team, such as groups on WhatsApp, it is the leader's responsibility to define the rules, add or remove participants and draw the attention of those who send inappropriate content.
Better to control and monitor than to prohibit
Banning the use of cell phones at work is considered a radical measure and not recommended. Because the company can create an image of imposing management, which does not consider the needs of employees. It could even demotivate some professionals. The ban can also be considered abusive if the company does not provide other forms of contact for employees.
Again, common sense and balance are important. On the company's side, the use of devices can be managed, allowing use at certain intervals or with the use of access control tools such as Lumiun , defining what can and cannot be accessed on the device. In addition to restrictions, these tools allow detailed monitoring of what employees are accessing, generating information that can be used to adjust this device usage policy and even in decision-making in the case of employees who do not comply with the rules.
Within this management, some basic guidelines are also important, such as requiring that cell phones be kept in a drawer or bag and always on silent. Professionals can also disable notifications from applications that can compromise focus and concentration, in addition to checking news only during breaks and rest times.
Finally, as cell phones are increasingly present in our daily lives, it is up to companies and professionals to develop a conscious way of using this powerful tool, so that everyone benefits.
And in your company, how is cell phone use at work handled? Share your experience, citing positive and negative points of the policy used in your company.
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