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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
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We're a local governmental agency whose HR Director is requiring HR staff members to provide their personal cell phone numbers to her and to each other for use "in case of emergency." This will assure
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Forums » Topic Forums » Work Views » Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 12/2/2004 6:16 AM EST
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Posts: 2
First: 12/2/2004 Last: 1/11/2005 |
We're a local governmental agency whose HR Director is requiring HR staff members to provide their personal cell phone numbers to her and to each other for use "in case of emergency." This will assuredly involve work-related phone calls during vacations, holidays and weekends. Staff in question are either unrepresented/nonexempt, or management/exempt. Some of the nonexempts are balking (not that I blame them). Is this requirement legal? Won't time spend on the phone after hours be compensable?
Thanks for any input, including any experience with this same situation. |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 12/5/2004 7:36 AM EST
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Posts: 1783
First: 11/11/2003 Last: 5/13/2010 |
I don't see that asking for cell phone #s is any different from being expected to provide a home #. Some people don't even have a landline anymore.
Being contacted outside normal work hours is a separate issue. |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 12/14/2004 5:30 PM EST
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Posts: 106
First: 4/29/2003 Last: 4/19/2008 |
Can see this as exposing the company to liability in that if employees are required to provide personal information to their co-workers.
Now what if a co-worker misuses that information somehow? EG rings up another co-worker and harases them out of work hours. Is the company partially liable because they insisted that the employee provide that information? What happens if the information is passed onto a third party and used for inappropriate purposes, eg telemarketing? Far too many possibilities for company liability when there is no real reason to pass this private information about. |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 12/21/2004 9:22 AM EST
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Posts: 35
First: 9/10/2003 Last: 1/30/2007 |
If someone needs to be on call we either provide them with a work phone or e-mail access from home. I agree with the views on privacy, even if an employee voluntarily gives their personal phone number for use you should discuss with that person who the number will be given out to, and when it will be used. Where possible I choose not to contact employees when they are not at work- ever heard of work/life balance? |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 12/29/2004 3:09 AM EST
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Posts: 50
First: 11/15/2004 Last: 9/27/2005 |
I think it's fine under the following circumstances:
1) Everyone across the board is being asked to provide the same info 2) It's for emergencies only--to communicate vital info about an emergency, such as the office being closed 3) People are being asked for a contact # only, not just cell phone #s (should be acceptable if a person prefers to give a land line # that has an answering machine) 4) Will not be used to get people to perform work when they are not supposed to be performing work |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 1/11/2005 4:40 AM EST
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Posts: 2
First: 12/2/2004 Last: 1/11/2005 |
Ah, there's the rub (#4). Those ground rules are sensible, however, and I like them. I'll look for my opportunity to broach them with the director (whose definition of "emergency" is much broader than its intended usage).
Thanks for everyone's input. |
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Requiring Personal Cell Phone Access
posted at 5/20/2007 12:29 PM EDT
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Posts: 8
First: 9/2/2006 Last: 5/20/2007 |
If you want to give out your personal cell phone number, it is up to the individual. If you have a home phone number, and she is giving you a form asking for an emergency number, then give you home phone number. You are never required to give out your cell phone number if you do not want to.
If you want, there is a company called privatephone.com. You can get yourself a private phone number and use that instead. Many people are signing up with this service to control annoying telemarketers. |
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