Young workers and smart phones

Now i know that the young (16-early 20’s) age group of workers seem to be getting a hard time of things of late but from my recent experience i can see why people dont want to take them on.

We have had a 18yr old at work (who happens to be the son of the guy in charge of this specific job) and all he does is text or look on faceache or whatever it is. Trying to get anything done from him is a nightmare, its just a constant fixation with the phone, texting in particular.

Im not in a position to sack him which i would if i could but it just makes the contractors look stupid and the father who is in charge more so, but the main thing is no matter what field of work your in i imagine people have a similar problem. I have also heard of people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process.

I can totally see why now, and i think id be tempted to do the same to be honest which is a terrible thing to say but true.

And why cant young’uns just make a quick call to save sending a gazillion texts? It makes sense why they offer something like 3000 texts/month with a phone contract, these kids use more.

Im only 31 by the way…

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

“Only 31”.

How’s the arthritis grandad?

Has anyone told him this?

Whereas dicking about on Singletrack all day is far more productive?

I have also heard of people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process.

I’m sure this is some kind of -ism.

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office

thats because they have a camera on…

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

What about the kids?

I must admit, if I was footing the wages bill, I’d discipline staff for excessive use of smartphones.

people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process

that’s a bit strong – I have my smartphone hooked up to work email and my work calendars and I use it for my task lists.

maybe better to look at their frequency of texting during the working day.

thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine. Im in a work field where that isnt a problem and there is no reason to ban them other than to stop skiving

I spend all day working with 16-19 year olds. I find asking them to put their phone away helps. Have you tried this?

I went to gym recently which was pretty busy at the time. Not a problem apart from the fact that half the people taking up bench/machine space were texting instead of exercise (if it makes any difference, I am old so my opinion may not count).

Gunz – that’s called “textercise” – get down with the kids dude.

What about the kids?

Playing Angry Birds.

We’ve just published a policy on the use of ‘media devices’ including smartphones at work – basically, you can’t except during break time(s).

It’s a management issue though really isn’t it? Set out the policy and then manage people if they don’t adhere to it.

MObile phones – most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time – I know of people dismissed for it as well

had they been employed for more or less than 12 months Uncle Jezzer? 😉

I went to gym recently which was pretty busy at the time. Not a problem apart from the fact that half the people taking up bench/machine space were texting instead of exercise (if it makes any difference, I am old so my opinion may not count).

I do this between sets, makes the 90 seconds pass quicker!

The irony of middle aged folk posting on STW about this during work hours is super..yes the yoofs have a lot to learn from us ….mainly about not getting caught.

It makes sense why they offer something like 3000 texts/month with a phone contract, these kids use more.

Data is way cheaper than voice.

Oh, and if you have a problem with it, take him to one side and have a word and explain why it’s an issue. If it persists, have a quiet word with his old man.

FWIW I have a smart phone. It’s the one provided to me by work.

MObile phones – most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time – I know of people dismissed for it as well

Mental 😯

As per TurnerGuy, I get all my work email through my phone and even sometimes use it to Remote Desktop or Telnet into work PCs.

More to the point: shouldn’t employees be measured on actual performance rather than setting rules about phone usage, internet usage, coffee breaks, time spent on the loo etc etc etc

binners – Member

had they been employed for more or less than 12 months Uncle Jezzer?

🙂 don’t matter – it was in the contract.

“thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine”

Thats a stupid comment

They can probably multitask better than you anyway. I can be doing work plus organising trail builds etc using my phone.

Your just scared of the young pushing you out old man. Just because you can only do 1 thing at a time doesnt mean they can.

In my work it’s all about innovation and meeting targets rather than being at a desk all day looking busy but doing f all. My old man doesn’t understand why I’m allowed to work from home as “they can’t see you sitting working”.

Times have changed in lots of cases and the workplace is one. He could be using his phone to do stuff you havent a clue about.

Times have changed in lots of cases and the workplace is one. He could be using his phone to do stuff you havent a clue about.

We’re back to Angry Birds

FunkyDunc – Member

“thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine”
Thats a stupid comment
Maybe, but very likely correct. Nursery worker with a device capable of taking pictures = potential for bad things

My mate has a factory and his nightshift staff where constantly on their phones posting on facebook and texting after twice calling in the 6 teenage culprits(no probs with the older staff)they still carried on posting he installed a signal jammer plugged it into light switch timer so it now switches off during their breaks

Sounds more like a case of a young guy, possibly in his first job, needs to be managed and given some structure not just allowed to carry on doing personal stuff all day. OK I’d kind of hope they already knew it wasn’t acceptable behaviour but if they need telling then do so.

The irony of middle aged folk posting on STW about this during work hours is super..yes the yoofs have a lot to learn from us ….mainly about not getting caught.

I used to use this in my old job. 😯

Ghostzilla browser for Windows is a tool that shields you from the looks of people around you, when they try to see if you are surfing the Web.

With Ghostzilla, they see your normal work screen. You see the Web page, drawn to appear inside your work application and to look like that application to a bystander.

If someone comes too close, move the mouse away from the Web page and it disappears, leaving the original application frame. When the coast clears, another mouse move brings Ghostzilla and the Web page back inside your application.

The browser always has only one window, framed in your work application, but you can surf multiple pages at once in different tabs. Needless to say, popup ads can’t exist. You are not even bothered by the in-page ads — any non-tiny image is hidden unless you hover the mouse over its frame.

It uses a clever approach that completely integrates the browser interface into virtually any application interface as well as Windows Explorer.

In addition, it changes the web page colors and appearance to a discreet black and white document style that nicely blends with most business type documents. Even if your boss was standing right behind you, he would probably never suspect, that what you re looking at is a live web page.

“thats to do with pedophilia related things though i would imagine”

Thats a stupid comment
you are obvioulsy not aware of the recent court cases where nursery workers had abused/photoed and videoed children in their care using their phones I assume ?

TandemJeremy – Member
MObile phones – most workplaces I have worked in it its instant dismissal for using them in works time – I know of people dismissed for it as well

What is it like working in North Korea?

thegman67 – Member
My mate has a factory and his nightshift staff where constantly on their phones posting on facebook and texting after twice calling in the 6 teenage culprits(no probs with the older staff)they still carried on posting he installed a signal jammer plugged it into light switch timer so it now switches off during their breaks

Interesting since it’s illegal to jam signals…
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement/spectrum-enforcement/jammers/

FWIW, TJ loves North Korea – appeals to his authoritarian streak… 😉

glenh – its healthcare. Its a standard part of the contract. No mobile phones in works time. Its common in the sector if not universal

TJ+1

no phones in forensic units and prisons either, no cameras around kids etc which means no phones with cameras, and as another example a friend who worked for AWE (atomic weapons establishment IIRC) wasnt allowed a phone with a camera either.

mrsconsequence not being allowed a phone in the prison has meant despite her starting a new, daunting and emotional job.. i haven’t had to deal with any upset calls or texts 😀

At the nursery where my kids go the staff have to leave their smart phones in the office.

For a multitude of very good reasons

I have a mate who uses twitter constantly throughout his working day. I know this because his twitter feed is publically viewable by just googling his name.

A good 60% of the tweets are moaning about his job, how he hates it and all the miserable mundane tasks he has to do. I’m amazed he hasn’t been sacked especially as he has freely admitted that he has already had several warnings etc due to his piss poor performance.

I can only assume they haven’t yet bothered to google his name as he would surely be fired on the spot. I’ve told him this but he hasn’t changed his public viewing profile which I assume on twitter you can do.

Anyway he’s 31 years old so not really a ‘young worker’.

We’ve had an issue with a member of staff using all sorts of cover to hide her phone usage, having it in an open bag on her desk, sitting incorrectly (office staff have been advised on correct posture) i.e. with the back of the chair to the side, to shield usage, hiding it behind a peace lilly too! They’ve been told about this and they then complain to other members off staff about “I’ve got to sit properly now” or I’m not allowed my bag on the desk” failing to mention the reason she’s been asked to refrain from those actions, making management out to be nasty about it. There is a no personal mobile phone policy in place. Funny that the person she complains too is the one who raised the concern in the first place.

Jesus I’m glad I don’t work where you guys with the draconian policies work. Where I work we are all allowed smartphones, unlimited web usage etc, we can bring in our own ipads and laptops and hook them up to the company-provided wifi (on an ADSL line) to keep them off the corporate network. It works because we’re trusted not to take the piss.

And why cant young’uns just make a quick call to save sending a gazillion texts? It makes sense why they offer something like 3000 texts/month with a phone contract, these kids use more.

Personally prefer texts as they allow much more flexibility. Why call someone for a couple of minutes, totally disrupting what I’m doing at the time, making a noise in a place where it’s not necessarily appropriate or discussing something I don’t want discussed in work when a short flurry of 10 word texts does the same job and allows me to break for no more than a second or so per text. Add to that the fact that texts are saved and answered as and when the recipient chooses rather than having to be answered or ignored on the spot, it’s a far more efficient way of multi-tasking.

That said, I know how frustrating it is to have people lost in texting when you’re talking to them. But that’s basic manners, nothing to do with the phone.

As for judging people in interviews by their phone – I’d have thought that was potentially illegal and is utterly stupid.

Jesus I’m glad I don’t work where you guys with the draconian policies work. Where I work we are all allowed smartphones, unlimited web usage etc, we can bring in our own ipads and laptops and hook them up to the company-provided wifi (on an ADSL line) to keep them off the corporate network. It works because we’re trusted not to take the piss.

+1, I guess company policy is generally dictated by the general practice of the employees though – if you’re proven to be trustworthy you’ll be trusted, generally, though some just refuse to have the trouble of making the judgement.

glenh – its healthcare. Its a standard part of the contract. No mobile phones in works time. Its common in the sector if not universal

Cant be that universal, I was in A&E the other day, sat next to the “no mobiles” sign, with two doctors walking around on their mobiles.

I have also heard of people asking to see phones in interviews and if they have a smart phone basically discounting them from the process.

I’d be happy to be discounted in this manner. I don’t like working for stupid people.