Right to disconnect

Before I retired, my employer offered me and others in my position across the state a cell phone. Several took them and were constantly harassed by both their employees and their superiors. It was "strongly suggested" that I and others who declined should take one as well but I refused after asking if I took one would I be expected to answer it when away from work. Their response was yes, if I took it I would be expected to answer it whenever I was called. I ended the conversation by offering to take one when they paid me to carry it during off hours. My contract called for me to be paid if I had to come in after work hours so I put in for that pay when, after they called the golf course clubhouse and the clubhouse personnel caught me when I played a hole near it, so I called them on my cell phone. They took up 45 minutes of my time and my 4-some went on without me while I was on the phone. My OT pay for talking them through a problem for 45 minutes was denied. They told me, "If you would have come back to work to solve the problem, you would have been eligible for the pay but since you handled it by phone you were not eligible to be paid." It still would have taken the 45 minutes to solve the problem but I would have also taken me another 45 minutes (each way) for me to drive back to work to handle it. My contract also called for me to have been paid "mileage" for each mile I would have driven to go back to work in this situation but they couldn't see that so from then on, no paid cell phone for me unless I got paid to carry it. If you took one you couldn't make personal calls on it... so you had to carry it and your personal cell phone.

As with work-related functions, I see no reason to acquire a mobile phone for that purpose exclusively.

But as a parent with kids, who these days in particular, only more and more seem willing to communicate via texting/cellphone exclusively, then obviously there's an entirely different aspect that must be considered. If you're not in that situation, then obviously that doesn't pertain to you.

Landlines will soon be a thing of the past. We might as well accept it, otherwise be on the outside looking in. That's where things are heading, just as computer technology has also made normal correspondence via written letters nearly obsolete. To deny it is just refusing to accept reality of where we are.

I'm inclined to take the good with the bad and stay in touch with my kids. With work, however, it's an entirely different situation and I understand fully the usual grievances. It just comes down to what one is willing to accept and/or sacrifice.

mulegolf

Christ...sounds like us to some degree.

We used to be suppiled a company cell phone and they would pay the bill. It was one of those "everything" plans so they didn't care about personal use. I didn't have my own phone at the time so this was great. I still called it my "work" phone and told them that. Therefore at night and at 4 am when these guys would call me I would have it on silent and call them back when MY day began.

A few years ago the company in a midst of taking away holidays, 401k match, decided to take away the company issued phones and tell us to get our own phones and you could submit the bill as a "personal liable cell phone". I still submit my whole bill on an "everything" plan and its not questioned.

A few people balked and the company was having a heart attack...pretty funny...they expect everyone to fall in line. I still shut mine off, or if my boss asks me I tell him it went dead etc... hey, they gave up the right to cell phone questions when they made us buy our own. I've had the same one 3 years now. I wont upgrade until its dead.

I do not get work e-mails at home, I don't even know where to go to log in other than on a city computer. Apparently some do not quite understand how e-mail works. The "office" will send us important messages in an e-mail, when we are out responding to calls. Then, in between doing our actual job, we have to write a memo explaining why we did not complete an administrative task that was sent in said e-mail. If they call me when off duty, it goes to voice mail, if it is important I return the call. If it is a call-in for an incident, 911 calls me, and I know it is them. I answer that because it is a recording, I then have to call 911 ( on an administrative line) and tell them I am responding.

Release
16 hours ago

mulegolf
What kind of idiot would implement that rule for carrying a company cell phone.
They could be liable for the overtime plus penalty.

That would be State of Minnesota, MN State Patrol.