electronic social gadgets in the workplace

[jonny jeez]

We have a new intern who seems to spend about a third of the day (that's not an exaggeration) on his mobile Facebooking, tweeting and generally twiddling his thumbs.

There is so much I find annoying about this (not least the constant clicking noise) but by far the worst is the distraction. For the remaining 70% of the day its a constant struggle to keep his attention on any single task.

I'm now noticing more senior people in the firm becoming distracted (mid conversation) by demands from their handsets.

Should we ban personal mobiles from the workplace?

 

[psmiffy]

yes - plus pc access etc etc - draconian but if people cant exercise a little voluntary restraint

 

[TVC]

We operate a no phone policy on our shop floor, you're paid to work not to socialise. People accept it easily, we only ever had one temp who wouldn't put his phone away no matter how many times he was asked. His contract was terminated.

Jonny, it's time to review you interns performance, if he doesn't accept what is required of him in terms of behaviour and work ethic then it's time for a new intern.

 

[TVC]

Mobiles are banned on our shop floor too, not that it stops most of us having a little look at CC when we perhaps shouldn't

For us, it's one of those rules that's honoured in the breach. If you need to make a quick call to sort something urgent, or a child minder needs to contact a parent then that's no bother. It's abuse of company time that we clamp down on.

 

[Lee_M]

Are you paying your intern? If so tell them to stop, if not then I'd suggest you (your company) aren't in any position to complain :-)

 

[ufkacbln]

Workplace is lead lined because of the radiation protection issues - also sorts out mobile phone issues as there is no signal!

 

[ColinJ]

90% of us access CycleChat during normal office hours! The posting rate drops off a lot during holidays, weekday evenings and weekends.

 

[jonny jeez]

Jonny, it's time to review you interns performance, if he doesn't accept what is required of him in terms of behaviour and work ethic then it's time for a new intern.

As ever, in these matters....its a little more complicated.

There's "another" reason he is the only intern we took on this year. That said he doesn't answer to me directly so its bad form of me to pull rank. Regardless I think we should encourage some form of general curtailment, so perhaps I can effect his behaviour via a different more general route.

 

[psmiffy]

As ever, in these matters....its a little more complicated.

There's "another" reason he is the only intern we took on this year. That said he doesn't answer to me directly so its bad form of me to pull rank. Regardless I think we should encourage some form of general curtailment, so perhaps I can effect his behaviour via a different more general route.

I think you are doomed to fail - the subject will just find more and more snidey ways to hide what they are doing

 

[Firestorm]

Just had a missive from on high about mobiles in the office. Not allowed on the desk in future
Firewall blocks most social media some message boards get through CC being one, but the screens are so visible thats lunch break only
Personally i would have mobiles compulsory set to silent, some peoples idea of a ring tone are irritating to say the leasr

 

[Archie_tect]

.... I'm now noticing more senior people in the firm becoming distracted (mid conversation) by demands from their handsets.
Should we ban personal mobiles from the workplace?

Yes, hit them with hammers... and the mobiles.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

There's a name for it - "Time Theft".

Unfortunately where I work the directors give out the WiFi password to employees for their mobiles.

 

[biggs682]

totally agree re banning of mobiles in workplace or certainly using them for internet access .

i think out of an office of 12+ i am the only one who's has no internet access

 

[Bollo]

The MD blocked Facebook because one employee was spending too much time on it, the twist being that the employee was his wife. She also claims to have received a verbal warning, which TBH I wouldn't put past him.

Apart from that we have free access, but as a small firm we're all close enough to the cash flow to keep work time distractions to a minimum.

 

[The Brewer]

We're supposed to be banned from using mobiles, but my boss texts me when he needs to speak to me. I'm not on mine every minute but see others constantly on theirs

There's a joke about one colleague that he can cook with one hand as hes always on Facebook