Is That A Cell Phone In Your Pocket?

Today, we have so many more ways to communicate with each than we did twenty years ago when I started working in the veterinary profession.

Over the years, I have witnessed an amazing evolution in technology, especially in the advancement of cell phones.

I sometimes think that it was easier, back in the day, when we didn’t have such a connection with our cell phones. We would go to work, surrender to the day, and then go home to listen to our cassette tape answering machines. We didn’t feel compelled to check our cell phones for messages or texts at every possible break throughout the day. If we needed to be contacted about an emergency, family and friends knew they could call the practice phone number.

I remember how thrilled I was to get my first cell phone; it was as big as a shoebox, but I felt I was on the cutting edge of something big to come. Today, cell phones are small, lightweight, and have texting, photo, audio, and internet capabilities. Technological advancements have grown to be a love/hate phenomenon, especially in the workplace.

Impact of Cell Phones in the Workplace
Cell phones impact the majority of our lives no matter the gender or generation. Baby Boomers to Generation Z, male or female, all rely on the cell phone’s expeditious connectivity. According to a recent study by Robert Half Technology, 51% of chief information officers reported an increase of poor workplace manners as a result of increased use of mobile hand-held devices (SHRM). The impact on today’s workplace can be seen by a recent discussion I had with a practice manager:

Practice Manager: “I understand how important cell phones are and I don’t want to deny the employees complete access. I think most of them do pretty well, but it’s just one or two that are out of control and just can’t put it away. We don’t have an official, written policy, but it may be time to establish one. I can’t have some employees put them away while others carry them all day in their pocket.”

Question: “What is your biggest challenge?”

Practice Manager: “It’s that a few may spoil it for everyone else. They take their cell phone into the restroom and make calls; it takes them forever to come out and get back to work. It used to be so easy when we had just a few employees, but as we have grown so have the challenges. I’ve got to get on top of this cell phone issue.”

Cell Phone Policy
As technology continues to advance; it’s necessary to evaluate the impact it has in the workplace and establish an appropriate policy. It’s also important to communicate to the practice team what is and is not acceptable while at work. Here are some items to consider when establishing the cell phone policy:

Policy Considerations
1. Can cell phones be brought into the practice?
2. Can team members carry them in their pocket?
3. When can they check their messages?
4. Should they just turn them off?
5. Can they use cell phones in the break room or restroom?
6. Can allowances be made if they are waiting for a call?
7. If they text only, is that okay?
8. Does the policy also apply to management and doctors?
9. Have the policies been communicated to team members?
10. Have policies been signed off by all team members?

From Shoebox to Pocket Pet
Although no two practices are alike, one consistent challenge for practice management is the advancement of technology. Long gone are the days when cell phones were as big as a shoebox. As they become smaller, it’s made it easier to treat them like pocket pets. Cell phones have so many exciting and beneficial capabilities yet its impact on the practice will remain an item to continually assess.

What’s Your Story?
Have you experienced cell phone challenges in your practice?
Does your practice have a cell phone policy?

References
Society of Human Resource Management, Study Links Hand-Held Devices to Poor Workplace Manners, 2010.