5 reasons why phones should be allowed at work

It’s a very common rule these days that you’re not supposed to have your phone out while you’re on the clock. Some places have loosened up on the rules, where you can have your device on you say if you’re expecting a call. However, other employers are so stringent with these guidelines that even a single glance will net you a final warning before getting terminated. Here are 5 reasons why phones should be allowed at work- period.

1) Emergencies

Hopefully you’re never in this position, but that doesn’t stop life events from happening without warning. There are a number of things that could happen whether it’s about death, family, your spouse giving birth. Sometimes there are instances where you need to be able to get in contact with someone right away! And honestly, those emergency “call-in lines” don’t cut it. It’s a lot faster to be able to reach someone the second the moment strikes.

2) Nose to the grindstone culture is toxic AF

We live in a workplace culture where if you’re not busy busting your ass doing something every single second, you’re lazy. Yeah, that’s what people are at work for, is to earn a paycheck and hopefully a sense of fulfillment, but you’re signing up for a job, not to sell your soul. Hey if you’re hitting your daily rate, everything is caught up, and there’s not much else to do, I say to hell with tedious and unnecessary busy work, go and watch that 2 minute funny cat video. Shoot, I’d even like to watch it with you. Go ahead and check in with that friend you haven’t texted in a couple weeks, I’m sure they’d love to hear from you.

3) Your schedule inhibits important tasks

Most Americans typically work mornings. They didn’t make a movie called 9 to 5 just for shits and giggles. But do you know what else is only open 9 to 5? Banks, leasing offices, doctor’s offices, vet clinics, most important buildings in general. Those places commonly don’t have weekend hours or are very limited in them. At least one of those places is somewhere you probably need to visit at some point. You could at least try to get some of those things scheduled if you could step to the side and make a quick phone call. After all, I think a loan payment is more pressing than sweeping a floor that’s just gonna get dirty again.

4) It’s not really your business

Of course this is going to rub some of you authoritative beings the wrong way. But you know what? What’s going on in someone’s personal life really isn’t your business anyway, unless it in someway incapacitates their ability to work. Now, by incapacitate, I don’t mean a 10 minute bathroom break every once in a blue moon. I’m talking more along the lines of having not done anything productive in over an hour. At that point, it’s okay to consider that something is probably wrong. But if someone is scrolling through their phone in between tasks, it doesn’t really concern you.

5) No employee is trying to steal your information

Another frequent concern with manufacturing sites is that someone could try and download blueprints or other sensitive information. Let’s be real, why would someone need to know the intricacies of how a hydraulic hose, or plastic seal works? That’s not going to be very useful, it sounds way too dangerous to be even trying, so it’s highly unlikely that anyone is going to do it. Now, if you clearly see someone snapping a photo of private information, sound the alarm and bust their ass. But if you see someone laughing, smiling, or goofing off for two seconds before sliding their phone back into their pocket, don’t flatter yourself. They’re not after work instructions.

Are there any more reasons you can think of as to why people should be allowed to have their phones on them? Or are you against cellphones in the workplace completely? If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a like or giving a tip today!