Employer wanting to confiscate cell phones upon arrival....legal?

That's actually a really good idea. The Samsung/iPhone watches would allow you to receive notifications and receive texts.

 

My God...what did we do before cell phones (that really are not phones anymore, they are small computers with a phone app)

 

I would have an issue with any such policy at my work place. If they take away cell phones, what's next? no conversations with coworkers, no bathroom breaks, monitored lunches??

Run forest run.....

 

Truth.

 

Sounds like middle school to me.

 

I wish my employer would take away my iPhone.
(company provided and I get dozens of emails and dozens of texts daily)

 

Ask boss for the reason before getting pulled about it. The signals are a safety risk in some environments I've worked in. I've also been in secure areas where any transmitting or recording device was an risk to trade secrets. And I've seen general workshops with 40% productivity due to texting, games, etc on phones.

Generally, businesses have the right to control the work environment. If the phone isn't a company issued tool, they can tell you not to have it in the work area.

 

I'm guessing if I can be random pee tested taking a cell phone is legal. It's shitty but, what do you do?

 

I cant wait til they start doing same in movie theaters.

 

I see both sides. As a mom I wouldn't be able to be without my phone in case something happened to one of my kiddo's. Granted they can call the work number but I would feel better having a direct way for them to get ahold of me. On the other hand people spend countless hours on their phones. So much, they are almost incapable of face-to-face interaction (IMO) so in a work environment people can tend to be unproductive as a result of the phone distraction. I feel as if people came to work to work and kept their phone usage to a minimum then there would be no need for such a rule. As far as a legal stand point, it's hard to say. Each state has varying rules on employee rights. Here in CA, pretty much whatever the employer wants the employer gets.

 

Most "adults" act like adolescents today, so...

 

Is it an hourly or salary place? Do you have set or fixed hours?
If hourly and/or fixed hours then while you are on the job, you are on your employers time and anything personal is outside that - including personal cell phone. I don't think you're willing to take time off for the use anymore than they are willing to pay you for it.
Now, if it's salary and flexible hours and there are no regulatory or safety issues - then it seems a bit heavy handed.

 

20 years ago there weren't cellphones and people got by just fine, so what's the problem? Find another job if you don't like it

 

In my business I have a no cell phone policy. They can have it on them on vibrate, leave it in their car, locker....wherever as long as it's not being used for entertainment. Honestly I'm not that strict if it's an important call and doesn't become a habit or they are looking up something business related, yes I ask all the time when I see one out. I know many who are in the same business that are very strict with a 2 strikes your out policy if caught using on company time. It's up to the employer and should be in the code of conduct or hand book. I would never want the liability of making employees turn them in. For me its for loss of productivity not safety issue. I wouldn't expect anyone to pay me to play on my phone and not going to pay anyone to either.

 

Think about it. People are scared to death to be w/o a cell phone.

Disclaimer: I post this from my iPhone that never leaves my sight.

 

Yes it is legal. Honestly this is a good example of why we have unions. I like this idea...

 

NSFW comes to mind. In my opinion NSFW shouldn't even be in our Internet vocabularies because you shouldn't be fucking around on the internet at work. You are there to work and not play. And that's probably why the employer is making the job a cell phone free work place. I'm convinced well over 50% of TW is guilty of using company computers and or company time to fuck around on TW while on the clock.

 

???

 

Hi Larry, I was replying to the OPs original post abut the legality of an employer requiring employees to turn in their cell phones during work shifts. My apologies for the confusion, I should have read the thread through before posting - my bad. I can see how my reply right after yours looks nonsensical.