Outrage over bizarre workplace phone rule
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An angry boss has threatened to give workers an immediate pay cut if they are caught using their cellphones while at work.
A golf clothing store clerk said his colleagues were ordered to turn off their phones and keep them out of sight, or face a pay cut and even layoffs.
The memo, shared on Reddit, clarified that the rule didn’t just mean turning off the screen.
Australians are outraged by a threatening memo received by warehouse workers, with immediate pay cuts if caught using their phones during work hours
The memo, shared on reddit, threatened staff with their pay cut or fired, saying if employees couldn’t find anything to do, they should keep busy cleaning the store.
“This means the entire phone has to be turned off,” the memo said. ‘Completely turned off so the phone doesn’t ring, vibrate or make any noise or function in any way’
The threatening letter to staff outlined the consequences of a first breach.
“The first time, the pay will be reduced by $2 per hour for a month.
‘In a second incident, the employee will be fired for violating this mobile phone policy.’
The memo was shared by the girlfriend of a warehouse worker who had just started a new job in Florida.
She noted that if she needed to talk to her partner about repairing their car, she should call her boyfriend’s boss.
“It’s insane. I don’t know why he didn’t run away.”
Bosses clarified that the rule didn’t mean they just had to turn off the screen, they had to turn off their phones and put them out of sight
Strangely, the memo suggested ‘ladies, keep’ [your phone] in your wallet,” while men are allowed to keep them in their pockets.
The policy was introduced by fed-up bosses after “errors of judgment” by employees about phone use during work hours.
“You are paid to work, not to use your cell phone,” the manager’s note read.
“If you can’t find something, start cleaning the whole store. When you’re done with that, start cleaning the whole store again.’
Employees were not even allowed to charge their phones at work.
“You don’t have to charge it if you’re not going to use it. Charging at home.’
But the new rule didn’t apply to all employees, with the memo allowing certain people to keep their phones on and with them. Their names had been blackened.
On Reddit, users were shocked and outraged. Several suggested we stop.
Geez, looks like it’s time to get a new job. It’s a job, they don’t own you! They can’t control you!
“If an employer treats you like a child, you should stop because you are an adult.”
One woman said her husband quit when he was confronted with the same disability.
‘He is also a father, we have three children. And his mother had a stroke. He had to be available.
“Listen, if you notice someone checking their phone all the time or calling people, fine. Go after them. But having a warehouse-wide policy is bs.
Also, why doesn’t the rule apply to the office? I feel discrimination.’
Others shared that the policy was harsh because humans are “not machines.”
“I hate the view that some employers seem to have that employees should be productive 100 percent of the time they are at work.
‘People are not machines. Focus increases and decreases.
“All that should matter is whether you’re getting an acceptable amount of work done?”
One person asked ‘what if they need to look at the time?’
Several people pointed out that their jobs are actively trying to prevent employees from even knowing the time at work.
“I’ve been told that looking at my watch gives the impression that I’m not interested in my job and eager to leave, and was therefore damaging to morale.
“This was a formal disciplinary meeting because I didn’t seem excited at work.”
“Is this legal?” one follower asked.
“I didn’t think so, but it turns out I did,” the women replied. “It was part of his new employee’s recognition.”