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[Megalosaro]

I work in an office. Two coworkers got into an arguing. It came out that one of them always slacks off. So now when we get into wotk, we check our phones in and then check them out when we leave.

Is it odd that I'm considering job hunting over this?

 

[Samyy]

Its not odd that you would consider changing jobs
I wouldn't feel good about it either, especially if I was doing my work.

 

[HUELEN10]

It's not like you can use them while working.

 

[CryptiK]

I work in an office. Two coworkers got into an arguing. It came out that one of them always slacks off. So now when we get into wotk, we check our phones in and then check them out when we leave.

Is it odd that I'm considering job hunting over this?

No this isn't school. What happens in an emergency? Call the work phone? Fuck dat

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Is it odd that I'm considering job hunting over this?

No. The only organizations that should ever be checking in phones are those with high security requirements.

 

[The Lamonster]

Get out, immediately.

 

[JDSN]

Bail.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

The fuck? Do you work for a top secret project?

This is ridiculous.

 

[Baron Doggystyle von Woof]

Why does the one colleague care about the other one slacking?

If he is doing his job who cares if he is slacking or taking a long break. Just do your own job.

 

[Dicer]

Bail out...

 

[LakeEarth]

Buy a broken phone on Kijiji and hand that one in.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Too much hearthstone in the office eh?

 

[The Lamonster]

Buy a broken phone on Kijiji and hand that one in.

This is a damn good idea.

 

[kooplar]

It's not like you can use them while working.

What if an something important is going on and someone needs to contact you immediately? (family, bank, etc)

 

[MonorailCat]

I would nope the fuck out of there as soon as possible.

 

[brochiller]

I'd leave.

 

[Transistor]

It's not like you can use them while working.

I use my cell phone while I work all the time.

 

[RustyNails]

Why does the one colleague care about the other one slacking?

If he is doing his job who cares if he is slacking or taking a long break. Just do your own job.

I never got this myself. There is a tattletail in our office too who concerns himself with what time people are coming and leaving and complains to the mgr. Do your own fucking job. Cripes.

 

[Lightning Count]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

 

[Gravy Boat]

One of my old jobs had this rule but everyone just kept their phones in their pocket anyway. Seems like such a minor issue to consider quitting over.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

Punish the individual employee, not the entire staff.

 

[Lightning Count]

What if an something important is going on and someone needs to contact you immediately? (family, bank, etc)

They call your place of work and they reroute the call via extension to a room where you can talk discreetly and uninterrupted.

 

[GeordieMark]

I despise companies who treat staff like children. Why would anyone who has a choice work for a place like that.

 

[Dicer]

It's not like you can use them while working.

My old workplace everyone used their phone, being next to loud machinery all day having headphones and your phone was the only relief...

 

[Baron Doggystyle von Woof]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

Or you can just ask him to not use his headphones instead of punishing all your employers, just saying.

 

[CryptiK]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

If you can't manage your own employee's then thats your problem, one person causing the issue does not warrant everyone being punished. This isn't school any more.

 

[espher]

Does it seem like a bizarre one-of for the company, or is this the sort of decision that you can easily understand your managers/executive making thinking it's a smart solution to a minor problem which may give you a hint of how they operate?

If it's the latter, and this isn't exactly a 'career' position that you'd love to keep, I'd certainly be keeping an eye out for something, but I wouldn't be rushing out the door yet.

 

[Samyy]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

Nope, why the hell should you punish everyone for one persons issues?
Horribly stupid policy that will build huge amounts of bad will in your employees, which is simply going to do the opposite of what you want. This will hurt productivity more than help it.

 

[Katori]

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

Nope. The market should be able to sustain you doing your job the way you want to, as long as you do it well (which may, of course, include keeping customers satisfied). Whether the market does or not is up for debate (and depends on where you are), but it's not a matter of priority.

OP, and presumably nearly everybody in his company, does his job well. One guy doesn't and the whole place is punished (in an incredibly arbitrary way)? That's bad management, which is another great reason to start searching for a way out.

 

[Lightning Count]

Punish the individual employee, not the entire staff.

Said employee has since resigned, but it's not good for them to messing around with their phone during working hours.

 

[Megalosaro]

Is my first career job. I find the company for the most part enjoyable. But with this, there is a pride issue. Fuck this. Updating my linkedin

 

[PumpkinSpice]

Is it odd that I'm considering job hunting over this?

I would if I were in that position.

 

[Lightning Count]

Nope, why the hell should you punish everyone for one persons issues?
Horribly stupid policy that will build huge amounts of bad will in your employees, which is simply going to do the opposite of what you want. This will hurt productivity more than help it.

Note I said I was only considering it at this stage. I probably won't do this unless it develops into a bigger problem.

 

[shanshan310]

Said employee has since resigned, but it's not good for them to messing around with their phone during working hours.

In a bar environment? Yeah, I agree. Or at least keep them in their bags in a staff room out the back.

 

[bigkrev]

As an employer I often consider implementation of just such a policy, we had an employee who became very unpopular with customers due to using headphones while at work and barely talking to them. Not ideal in a bar as small talk with the bar staff is a important part of customer interaction.

I'm considering creating a file where phones must be turned off and placed in the office upon starting a shift, they can be retrieved at shift's end.

Also if you're serious about job hunting because of this, you should think about your priorities.

This is perfectly reasonable in a customer service setting. In an office setting, it's fucking absurd.

 

[CryptiK]

Is my first career job. I find the company for the most part enjoyable. But with this, there is a pride issue. Fuck this. Updating my linkedin

Nice. Just make sure you don't mention the reason you are leaving to any one. Make up a good excuse.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Said employee has since resigned, but it's not good for them to messing around with their phone during working hours.

I'd probably resign too if I had an employer who would ever consider a policy of checking in my phone every day. And I'm a person who doesn't even use my phone except maybe three times during an entire week. Employer trust is important to employee efficiency. If employees feel like you're just there to be their enemy then they have little reason to give you loyalty back.

 

[Effect]

Unless there is some security issue at play making people check in their phones is stupid. Plain and simple. If someone isn't doing their job then talk to that person and watch them to make sure they are and if they don't change they're let go. The very nature of emergencies is a reason why people should be able to have their phones on them. Implement a rule that people are not to use them while working unless under an emergencies. s

Making people check them in does not address the problem at all. If people are to preoccupied by their phones then they'll just replace that with something else. If there is an employee issue then deal with it not take this stupid and cowards way out and punish everyone.

If a job did this to me I would certainly take the route of handing in a broken phone and would be looking for a new job. This isn't how you deal with this type of issue.

 

[Dishwalla]

Why don't you just leave it in your car? I work in a place where there are no electronic devices are allowed due to security, so I turn my phone off and leave it in the center console. We are allowed to go out to our cars from time to time throughout the day and check our phones if we need to.

 

[Katori]

Note I said I was only considering it at this stage. I probably won't do this unless it develops into a bigger problem.

If everyone else performs their job, what's the point? More restrictions don't make more productive employees; there are plenty of studies on this.

I don't use my phone in meetings. I don't use it when I'm talking to customers. I don't use it when I'm programming. But having to check it in? Yes, I would leave, within a matter of months.

 

[Calamari41]

Unless you're working in a secured facility (meaning that you guys handle classified info), you're not wrong to be upset about this.

 

[LevelNth]

I love that there are still employers that legitimately believe this will help spur productivity.

1997 called.

 

[Ban Puncher]

You and co-workers need to have a Blanket Party for those two deadbeats.

 

[Sarcasm]

Putting your phones before you go work in a bar isn't punishing. You should not be on your phone in that line of work.

This isn't some dictatorship or capital punishment he was forcing. Maybe if it was one of those office jobs where you pretty much choose your own work schedule and everybody is bud buds that would be kind of punishing.

Frame of reference. Bar vs office.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Why don't you just leave it in your car? I work in a place where there are no electronic devices are allowed due to security, so I turn my phone off and leave it in the center console.

This is what i'd do. It would also have the bonus of me being away from the workplace during lunch as i'd be in my car checking my phone. Much less stressful and less chance of interruptions.
If work wanted me to hand in my personal phone i'd want it to go in a secure locked box with limited and accountable access. If not then yeah, i'd leave it hidden in my car or not bring it to work.
It's also not a good look for the management if they treat staff like children, get some training for your managers.

 

[Megalosaro]

Unless you're working in a secured facility (meaning that you guys handle classified info), you're not wrong to be upset about this.

Technically, we do. We are nda'd out the ass since we are a logistics company that had many entertainment clients

 

[Amentallica]

I'd refuse to check in my phone. The notion that this should be expected of me in what I assume is not a top secret organization is ludicrous. I would absolutely consider finding new employment. Wanting to improve worker efficiency doesn't justify being belittled and treated like a teenager. Find an employer who respects you as a person.

Also, apparently some employers think that needlessly invasive measures like this are the only solutions to improving productivity. As someone else said, 1997 called.

 

[Jito]

I can understand wanting to leave over this, but one of my biggest annoyances at work is seeing people slacking off on their phones instead of working. I wouldn't want an out right ban on phones but some people are phone addicts and never put them down.

 

[openrob]

Handing in your phones... And your resignation, amirite?

 

[Jacksinthe]

Why does the one colleague care about the other one slacking?

If he is doing his job who cares if he is slacking or taking a long break. Just do your own job.

Often times when one colleague slacks, the rest have to pick up after them.

There's a myriad of reasons why other workers should care, and not ignore it: when performance bonuses are based on teams and not the individual, when the workload increases on everyone else and everyone is forced to work overtime to play "catch up" due to the slacker while on salary, etc.