Top 6 Rules for Using a Cell Phone at Work

Top 6 Rules for Using a Cell Phone at Work

From Dawn Rosenberg McKay – about.com

Cell phones are useful but they can be so disruptive. Your friends and family can reach you anytime, anywhere, which can sometimes be annoying. When you're on your own time, the choice to turn off your cell phone is entirely yours. When it comes to using your cell phone at work, however, you have to be mindful of your co-workers and your boss, not to mention your own ability to get your job done. Here are some rules you should follow when it comes to using your cell phone in your workplace.
1) Turn Your Cell Phone Ringer Off
If you don't want to turn off your cell phone completely, at least set it to vibrate. The sounds of different ring tones going off all the time can be very annoying to others. In addition, you don't want your boss to know how often your phone rings.
2) Use Your Cell Phone Only for Important Calls
What should you classify as an important call? The school nurse calling to say your child is ill, your children calling to say they've arrived home from school safely, and family emergencies that you must deal with immediately should be considered important calls. Your friend calling to chat, your child calling to say the dog had an accident in the house, or your mom calling to tell you your cousin Tilly is engaged should not be considered important.
3) Let Your Cell Phone Calls Go to Voice Mail
If you are in doubt about whether an incoming call is important, let voice mail pick it up. It will take much less time to check your messages than it will to answer the call and then tell the caller you can't talk.
4) Find a Private Place to Use Your Cell Phone
While it's okay to use your cell phone for private calls during breaks, don't stay at your desk. Find somewhere else to talk, where your conversation can't be overheard, even if what you're discussing isn't personal. You may be on a break but your co-workers have a job to do.
5) Do Not Bring Your Cell Phone Into the Restroom ... Ever
Why? Well, if you must ask — you never know who's in there; the person on the other end of the line will hear bathroom sounds, e.g., toilets flushing; it is an invasion of your co-workers' privacy.
6) Don't Bring Your Cell Phone to Meetings
Even if you have your cell phone set to vibrate, if you receive a call you will be tempted to see who it's from. This is not only rude, it is a clear signal to your boss that your mind isn't 100 percent on your job. All calls can wait until your meeting is over or until there is a break. Remember, there was a time before we had cell phones.