(How) should you manage smart phones and Facebook usage by employees?

Internet Communications in the Workplace: Bad Manners
Margaret McCrory, Student (University), Member
Manners above everything else is the issue here, emails, text messages, Twitter updates, Facebook messages and even phone calls are useful and necessary in some area's of business. However, to continually glance at the phone, laptop or iPad while speaking to someone or in a meeting is bad manners.
Social networking should not be allowed during working hours unless it is proved that it is the only line of communications open to a business associate, it is distracting and inhibits verbal communications with work colleagues.

Smart Phones during Business Meetings: On the Table
Celeste Ray, Consultant, United States, Member
This seems to be a continuous problem. We were brought up with manners and respect for others. No time should anyone text, answer a phone or check their email while having company meetings. All phones should be put on vibrate or snooze. How can you concentrate on the meeting doing these things?
In short, put the phones on the table.

Use of Smart Phones in Meetings: Set Ground Rules
Ken Kalali, CEO, Kenya, Member
I believe this is a case of abusing new technology which in essence is supposed to be an enabler in our businesses.
For me I always set ground rules in my meetings before they commence that cell phones must be on silent or vibrate and may not be answered during meeting, unless it is an emergency or significantly important matter that can't wait.
It is otherwise lack of courtesy to use phones in meetings, class etc.

Checking Messages in the Workplace: 1x in the Morning and 1x in the Afternoon
Randy Babicek, Manager, United States, Member
Depends on the business, but constantly checking messages is disrespectful and non productive in the workplace, especially in meetings.
Allocate specific times to check messages during the workday. 1x in the morning and 1x in the afternoon. I've also worked for businesses that don't allow mobile phones in the workplace. Situational depending on level of employee and position held.

Use of Smart Phones in Meetings: Owner/Manager Sets the Rules
Greg Sharpe, Manager, United States, Member
I believe that you as the business owner should set the rules on professional/respectful use of electronic devices. But every employee situation will have exceptions:
- You could affix a cube style cell phone holder on the entrance wall to the meeting room. Set the rule that all devices (if not pertinent to the meeting) shall be powered off and placed in the cubes.
- If people must have their phone at a meeting because of unforeseen circumstances, the employee should plan wisely and gain a supervisor approval to have a cell phone while attending a meeting.
- If there are family matters (medical should be the only excuse) that can't be put on hold for the meeting then they should not be allowed to carry a phone into the meeting.
- There are also meetings possible where phones are used to receive texts relevant to the meeting.
So set the rules and provide scenarios and solutions for employees. Also with rules there must be consequences for not following them.

Meetings are Expensive. Partial Attendance is Not Acceptable
Bob Strasser, Canada, Member
Meetings are an extremely expensive but necessary part of doing business. Today, having 10 people in a meeting easily costs $2000 per hour.
For that kind of money, I don't accept people being late or running in and out of my meetings while in progress. Neither do I accept partial attendance (meaning lack of attention to the group) because of communications interruptions. It is that simple.
However, if someone wants to pay for the time lost due to phone interruptions, I am willing to allow it in my meetings. As the business owner, it cost me money for the interruptions. I've never had a taker for that option.

New Communications can also Save Money on Meetings
Emmanuel Reyme, Director, United States, Member
@Bob Strasser: a creative manager never gives up. Use the handicap to your benefit. On a communication point of view, your message will not be well received: everyone is preoccupied with their smart phone.
Why not a change in strategy like: let them use their phone and computer to avoid meetings and conferences? So, you could save these $2000 per meeting. Please consider video conference instead of a four-wall meeting.
For further inputs, I am the owner and pdg of creative management for smart enterprises.

Meetings Where Half the Group is Texting
Randy Babicek, Manager, United States, Member
@Emmanuel Reyme: with respect, better to alter the behaviors than coddle the employees who are distracting and non-engaged. I've been in meetings where half the group is texting and totally oblivious to what is being discussed.
To Mr. Strasser's point, if it were my company that would only happen once.

Smart Use of Smart Phones by Employees in Business
Emmanuel Reyme, Director, United States, Member
@Celeste Ray: in response to Ms. Steiner, let me add with Celeste that effective managers capitalize on all positive and negative aspects of individuals and groups to lead their organization and therefore, change people's behaviors.
Please do not worry; you could start using text messages instead of regular company emails to employees. Offer creative business commission to employees who generate revenues on their Facebook account. Make the bad business behaviors work to your advantage. Make sure you invite in the smartest way the use of their tools during business hours. Please remember: have them use their expensive machine to your interest without spending a penny.
For additional inputs, I am the pdg of creative management for smart enterprises.

Phone/Internet Communication in Meetings is a Waste
Bob Strasser, Canada, Member
Mr. Reyme, I run a tech company. Totally web based. We use and develop for use all types of technology. My remarks were only addressed to meetings. However, on another topic, it appears we have an old school, new school discussion going with Mr. Babicek.
In my opinion, each business is entrusted with the assets of investors and as such we are required to use those assets in the most efficient manner or go out of business fast.
Lack of focus and attention is a waste and should not be tolerated. My two cents worth. Please keep in mind, if there was only 1 best way to run a business, then it wouldn't be nearly as much fun!

Switch Off Mobile Phonese in Face to Face Meetings
Srikumar Varma, India, Member
All smart phones and other communicating devices must be switched off as a mandatory rule. If at all a communication has to be made then a separate room or space could be provided for the purpose that do not disrupt the meetings.
There is an disturbing trend in the future of technologies overlapping other technologies paving way for unclear realization of objectives and goals of that particular business program.

Communication Devices have Become Part and Partial of Human Life
Mohamed Nusry, Business Consultant, Sri Lanka, Member
It is very important to have effective meetings in organizations as far as the management and leadership are concerned.
However, the communication devices have become part and partial of human life. In balancing both the factors, should not allow them during meeting but should be given time to handle them later.

Use of Smart Phones in Board Rooms Should be Barred
Shweta Garg, Manager, India, Member
In respect to the use of smart phones in the meetings I strongly believe that it should be a mandate rule to bar the use such devices in the board rooms to avoid any disturbances to the ongoing discussion.
Only for people with exigency the phones should be allowed. In such cases the phones should be kept on vibrating modes to sustain a serene environment viable for a meeting.

Smartphones and Social Networks at Work
Chris Hdez, Coach, Mexico, Member
Not all the participants called in for meetings should be treated equally. We normally ask staff to put their phones in silent mode when entering the room and made arrangements beforehand for all the calls to be routed to an assistant on duty. If there are emergency situations which can´t or mustn´t be put off, the person is then called and should resolve the issue in less than five minutes. People expecting for last minute deals, such as sales reps or legal affairs officers are the only ones who might take a glimpse, though they know it should be sparse.
As for the use of social networks while at work, this is another issue that should be adressed more carefully in order to make the best use of it for both the employee and the employer.

Smart Way to Use Smartphones in Meetings
Jagdish B Acharya, Consultant, India, Premium Member
Normally for smart managers it should not be difficult to delegate a task to look after this to someone responsible to handle such calls during one hour of the meetings.
1. Participants therefore should leave a message about whom to talk during one hour and show their device as busy during this time.
2. That person may take decision or talk to the person in most cases.
3. When he still needs to talk or connect to the member (may be call from the president), he should talk to secretary of the conference room. He / she should text name of person required to the chairperson.
4. The person so required may go out and attend to the call outside the meeting room from secretary's desk.
In this process meetings may run smoothly without interruption to thought process in the meeting and really urgent needs are also attended in a non-intrusive manner.

Have Smartphone / Facebook Breaks at Work
Ivan Kohlinsky, Management Consultant, United Kingdom, Member
My knee jerk reaction is that it is better to control it (manage it) than have anarchy. In the same vein as smoking was banned in the workplace, and people were allowed smoke breaks every couple of hours, also openly providing a 'check your phones/personal e-mails/Facebook'-break might be least of evils for staff.
I agree the chairman should make a statement (ground rules) at the start of the meeting, much as cinemas do before a film is shown. But again, if there is a natural break - coffee or otherwise, then a 'turn on your phones' break can be declared.

Employee's Behavior Respecting Social Affairs Always Respected
Saeed Khodaee, Director, Iran, Member
Although I respect everyone's urgencies in meetings, I would rather ask the meeting attendees to put off their digital communications until the right time arrives. Having been the supervisor of a team of 15 engineers and technicians, I've always been concerned with this problem. My colleagues whom I like very much working with have learned how to deal with communication problems in gatherings as well.
I've learned that everything has its respective time and location. Meetings are so important that the participants are not allowed to digress the attentions of themselves and others by any means.
Personally, I enter any meeting silencing my cell phone thereby avoiding to disrupt other attendees' concentration. And I would also expect my coworkers to consider their situation in a business meeting.
For me, taking into account what it takes to be a vigilant audience is a must.

Empower Employees to Set the Company Rules for Smart Phones Usage During Work
peter simons, Turnaround Manager, Switzerland, Member
What strikes me is that everybody is telling what to do. That is still style 70s-80s. As a good alternative a company could empower its employees to set the company rules for the use of these technologies. Yes it will cost time and resources. However once adopted the employees themselves will police that the rules are lived up to.

Ground Rule: Divert your Calls!
Serkalem G.Kirstos, CEO, Ethiopia, Member
What is most important, as aired, is setting the pace by way of a ground rule that "no mobile phones should be answered while on a meeting" unless some safety issue where your mobile phones will be directed to the right stakeholders!
There are companies which do not allow personal mobile phones and all social networks while on duty! This has to be exercised by all employees to buy the idea that such is unproductive and lack of commitment!

Smart Phones during Business Meetings: Use the Secretary as a Filter
Osama Kamal, Management Consultant, Egypt, Member
May be it is better to let all unwanted contact tools in front of a secretary outside the meeting room, where she accepts calls and pass through only those which are urgent, taking messages for ordinary calls. At the end of the meeting, she tells each individual of his/her concerned calls.

Team Structures in a Dialogue Environment
Bill Boynton, Teacher, United States, Member
This topic is an causes an interesting scenario, since there might be some good reason a member of the team or group might be doing some texting.
If what I am understanding as the session moves along, and I would like to share that information with someone for maybe some input that would add some value or clarification to what is being discussed, then the texting could be considered beneficial.
That being said, there does exist something that is called "respect," professional conduct, sensitivities, etc, that comes into play which says we would do nothing that would take away from the purpose of the session.
When we have a "team" that works together, then we all need to align together for the same positive purpose.
I am not so sure that any part of a group of people in a meeting that may not be listening, or might be thinking about something other than what is being discussed are anymore beneficial.
I guess the whole issue here is "trust," are we really team players.

As a Manager, be an Example for your Staff
kierdorff, Manager, Netherlands, Member
Unfortunate companies partially can blame themselves of this bad conduct. Not so long ago, a job was a job and private was private.
Recently I attended a training. During the lecture almost all attending had their note book, smart phone or iPad on the table. At one point the trainer requested those concerned why they showed this lack of respect. They responded: “my boss expects me to stay on line”.
His response was, “if you behave like this now, you probably will behave like this during a customer meeting as well. You have to realize the customer will weigh your behavior and if you are too light, he will not inform you, but just do the deal with your competitor”. After this comment, all switched of their devices and paid full attention.
Over the years I learned an important lesson, that the behavior is usually a reflection from that of your own. It works the same way as with your children. Your behavior and rules determine the size of their playground. If you do not like them to use smart phone, don’t do it yourself, you are their example. Have interest in what they are doing, be an example and set rules.

RESPECT THE TEAM ought to be the Basis for Any Ground Rule
vince, HR Consultant, Trinidad and Tobago, Member
Frequent interruptions resulting from the use of electronic devices during meetings or discussions is disdainful to say the least.
Exceptional circumstances are recognised, but these must be genuine emergencies which may or may not be known in advance and can be allowed. In such circumstances interruptions are brought to a minimum or may never occur.
Also where it is known in advance that an important call is expected it would be prudent to notify the chair of the meeting indicating the need to be excused from the forum briefly to attend to such, or to have a confidential secretary handle it on your behalf, where practicable.
I agree with the basic concept of respect from which the ground rules should be determined.

Experience with Disallowing Smart Phones and Laptops During Meetings
Mark welker, Student (MBA), United States, Member
Out of respect for the people in the meeting and for the efficiency we have established a rule that no laptops or cell phones in meetings, except if you are presenting, or the designated scribe. People were using their laptops to check on Facebook, and email and not “taking notes”. Their cell phones are turned to vibrate to minimize the interruptions.
It has greatly improved our meetings, and decreased having to stop the meeting to repeat the question to someone who was on their laptop or phone.

Inclination to Check Phones is an Addiction...
robin umiom, Entrepreneur, Nigeria, Member
There is no emergency that can crop up in a management or board meeting of 2 - 4 hours to demand the recourse to telephoning or browsing while in a meeting.
We have even taken telephoning to church. The pastors in the pulpit browse and send messages on Facebook. And to courtroom. Only the judges seem hampered. They cannot text while concentrating on the proceeding at hand. But the lawyers have devised a way out. Their phones are now in silence and in vibration expecting that client to call. We are all guilty.
The best option: have ground rules during meetings - either switch off completely or don't come to meetings with phones.
Sometimes with smart phones we act impulsive like addicted smokers.

Suggested GROUD RULES for Smart Phones and Facebook
Robert Osborne, CEO, United States, Member
1. Ask people to turn their phones off at the beginning of the meeting. Seriously. It's rude to be texting during meetings.
2. Shorten the meetings, and shorten the invitation list, to make them more efficient. Make sure that everyone invited actually needs to be there, and that they have a role. 1 person to track action items, one person to be the time keeper to keep the meeting on schedule, 1 person to track any issues. Give everyone a job!
3. Agree with others regarding "ground rules"
As for Facebook, have it shut it down at source. However, people will still access via PDA's, so you need a firm, fair and clearly communicate policy. Allow people to use Facebook during lunch times and breaks, but not otherwise. It's a huge time waster, as is Twitter, news pages, stock market reports, and the web in general.
Put people on a web diet - it will be good for them, and the company. Consider only allowing web access to people who actually need it for research.

Ban Phones During Meetings
Charles Peter, CEO, Kenya, Member
Better still phones should be avoided in meeting venues to avoid distractions as the meeting progresses. How do you expect people to manage organizations if they cannot manage their phones.

The Old School Speaks
Dr Gary Jones, Business Consultant, Australia, Member
I live by very simple rules when I am chairing meetings. All mobile devices off. And I advise clients (owners) from day one employees to be advised communication by personal mobile devices is not accepted unless on their own time (morning break, lunch etc). Employees need to be advised of boundaries.

Mandatory Methods have Some Demotivating Effects
Saeed Khodaee, Director, Iran, Member
@Gary Jones: Being this straightforward seems to be effective in management. On the other hand, however, this sort of management approaches, so-called mandatory methods, may lead to some haphazard consequences. Employees at every level require a certain level of respect. Their business values have to be kept consistent with their private one.
As a result of a manager's consideration, one employee can be hopeful that investing time on a company's success may have mutual advantages.

Technoly Creates Habits which Work like a Drug
Anand H, Member
During meetings... Absolutely no... It boils down to self control... It's a matter of discipline and setting priorities... In the days of snail mail and type writers, employees socialized in real time during breaks which was more effective.
Times have changed and so have people. Technology helps them to stay away from reality like a drug... It eventually becomes a dangerous habit.

Why to Invite Someone for a Meeting if he thinks Smart Phone Browsing is the Priority?
Sidheeque Machingal, Director, United Arab Emirates, Member
I think it works both ways, if the meeting is really interesting, no one will bother to check his smart devices.
If he is habitually doing so, then why to invite him for the meeting?

Smart Phone Rules versus Behaviours and Exclusion versus Inclusion
Dali Horeshka, Business Consultant, Albania, Member
As is the case more often, the new technology has increased the communication but often the users use this technology in a harmful way for this communication. This means we have to build an ethical code of phone use: you are not entitled to use in a meeting or activity and if you continue to use you have fully deserved to be excluded from this so needed inclusion. The objectives of the meeting and those of participants should be in accordance.
If we do not like rules we do not like objectives. In contrast, if such such users are participants: we have two other possibilities to use or video conferences or phone use paralyzers. These last I do not like.
I think, this phenomenon is often related to the relevance: topic chosen, people invited and way of event organisation. If these three element are adapted there is a very little chance to have problems.

Have a Smart Phone Code of Conduct
Willard P.M. Mangwengwende, Manager, Zimbabwe, Member
I think its a very distracting behaviour if everyone in a meeting starts playing with their smart phones. They are quite useful gadgets when used responsibly but not in important board or management meetings. Its better to have a smart phone code of conduct which bars people from using smart phones during meetings. We have done that for our council and committee meetings. managers and councillors have signed the code which is a very positive development because there are sanctions for breaching the code.

Setting Rules Impairs Growth and Responsibility
Maria Montero, Coach, Venezuela, Member
I'm not a fan of rules as I haven't found them useful to motivate trust & freedom. I believe that rules are used when there is a lack of trust, motivation, clear goals, follow ups, leadership and passion for work. I also know that I cannot dwell on this in such a short space, but in my practical experience as a supervisor I have had few problems in relation to social networks and I have never banned them. On the other hand, my team and I work closely to each other with all our channels open, having successful criteria, clear goals and expectations, frequent follow ups, feedbacks and support. It's has to do with a change of paradigm.

Use Proxy Services to Avoid Facebook Usage During Work Hours
Janitha, Accountant, Sri Lanka, Member
An efficient method of handling Facebook traffic. In our office access to Facebook is not available during the office hours - 8 to 5. With the lapse of the office time, automatically Facebook becomes accessible. This is a ground rule that sets the tone on the company's attitude on Facebook usage. However when it comes to smartphones, best way to avoid distraction is to keep the phone in the silent mode. Let the phone vibrate and remind you that you have to respond soon after the meeting is ended. Keeping the phones on the table may be viewed as a more rigid rule.

Fostering Personal Responsibility and Engagement
Lamar Culpepper, Consultant, United States, Member
As Maria Lairet noted, the perceived need for imposing rule is out of a survival reaction to the resistance human beings experience when feeling dominated by superiors.
The more resistance is perceived by supervisors, the more rules are imposed, and, as the vicious cycle continues, more resistance is exhibited.
Leadership and personal responsibility must be fostered such that people are willing to choose for themselves the rules that will work aligned with their professed commitment to their work and the agreements they have made to be working in the first place.
If offered the opportunity, most people will be willing to create their own ground rules and have ownership, or engagement, in the agreements they have made.

Increasing Productivity of Employees
Belay Gezahegn, Director, Ethiopia, Member
It may discomfort people to deny them the right to carry their cell phone to a meeting hall implying that they are not respectful to meeting disciplines. Rather, it will be nice to set rules that every one has to observe.
For example to switch off their cell phones or other devices while in attendance, the chairperson may text a message that every attendant is requested to switch off her/his phone so that there will be no distraction by calls from outside.

Use the SPACER Acronym at the Start of Meetings
Felix Enrique Soto Romero, Project Manager, United States, Member
Every meeting should start with a S. P. A. C. E. R. :
- Safety
- Purpose
- Agenda
- Code-of-conduct
- Expectations
- Roles.
Part of the code-of-conduct could be that attendants are made aware that in order to make the meeting productive and to stick to the time alotted, cell phones should be turned off for the duration of the meeting.
Whoever is leading the meeting must first turn his cell phone off and ask everyone to follow the same path in order for the meeting to start.

Cellphones can Record Conversations in Meetings
vinod kumar, Student (MBA), India, Member
Beyond manners, it can cost more to company because conversations may be recorded and within few moments, it can be seen by outsiders. The best method is to keep cellphones switch off in meetings, including the most senior manager.
If people watch their electronic gadgets during a meeting, the agenda and proceedings of the meeting will be lost.

Smart Phones also May Enhance Flexibility
John limpus, Australia, Member
Recent smart phone technology does present some issues, regarding use, ethics, privacy concerns etc within the work environment.
However it may also provide an opportunity for managers to communicate with employees via text messaging, demonstrating not only a proactive approach to communicating, but familiarity with the latest technology.
With more and more emphasis on virtual teams, smart phones and other similar devices provide a portable and flexible means of establishing and maintaining lines of communication.

Checking Messages Within Meetings is Not Acceptable
Lamis Makhoul, Project Manager, Syria, Member
Checking message within the meetings isn't acceptable even putting phones on silent or vibrant is favoured as it will affect the core perception of the topic discussed in the meeting and might lead to misunderstanding the issue being handled and waste time.

Managing Smart phones and Facebook Usage in the Work Place
williams, Student (MBA), Trinidad and Tobago, Member
- Smart phone usage should be managed in and out of meetings in the workplace. I'm not sure how it may be managed outside of meeting rooms without the active input of an employee's conscience.
But I have seen places where employees spent considerable time on their social network interactions, then hustle to meet dead lines (it could be debated, if that time was spent instead on their work, mountains could be moved) policies should be implemented to suit the environment of each organisation/industry.
- Re: to meetings, respect for one another and self should be the rule of thumb. Phones off from management down (they may then be placed in one common area), if a necessary call is expected the chairperson must know before hand, this should only be for emergency situations.
- Re: to Facebook usage, this depends on the organisation/industry, where the dissemination of information is the core mandate of the organisation, Facebook use maybe priceless, however this must be well managed and monitored for optimal results.

Exceptions and Complications with Banning Devices in the Workplace / Meetings
KATHRYN STEINER, MBA, Entrepreneur, United States, Member
The responses have been varied and interesting in their variation. I agree that there should be measures taken such as everyone placing their phones in a secured location in view of, however, away from the primary meeting table/room.
There are exceptions, and some employers do expect their employees to stay online...
- One complication is there are also people that use their iPad to take notes... What else they are doing in between taking notes is subject to speculation. Lol, or not.
- I have participated in meetings where there is no phone checking. Typically if a matter is urgent, the secretary is contacted and screens the call. But this method may not be implemented with external individuals participating in the meeting.
- Certainly networking, sales, etc. is essential for business and most if not all have links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc...
This is a thought provoking discussion.

Clear Meeting Ground Rules for Laptop and iPad Usage
Mortier, HR Consultant, Member
Our company has a clear set of 'meeting rules' the meeting organisor always can refer to should meeting participants make abuse of newest communication technologies:
Max 2 laptops allowed: one for giving presentations, and the other one for taking meeting minutes.

No Exceptions in Telephoning During Meetings
robin umiom, Entrepreneur, Nigeria, Member
Kathryn you have moved us to discussing telephoning at meetings and agreed it has been quite thought provoking. I am sure you want further discussion on the the exceptions angle.
But the thing is there can be no exceptions from all we can gather from the discussants. This is particularly so when some challenges have been highlighted. These issues are:
- Leakage of resolutions at ongoing meeting (quite possible in competitive business or sensitive public organisation) and of
- Distraction.
So while at the meeting we should maintain a ban on telephoning.

Focus on the Thinking, not the Tools
Gary Wong, Consultant, Canada, Premium Member
Let's think twice about limiting the use of smart devices. Meetings should harness the power these electronic tools provide. I include cell phones, ipads, notebooks, and whatever else is coming over the technological horizon.
The #1 meeting concern has always been the lack of focus and attention of participants, even before these devices were invented.
Therefore, I suggest using a method such as Six Thinking Hats to better manage the meeting agenda. There are times when texting, phoning, accessing the web might be actually desirable. For instance when gathering information under the White Hat, you may want a participant to contact his office to obtain critical data. When thinking about new ideas under the Green Hat, a quick search on the web might trigger some different thinking.

Thinking Needs to Be Directed
Dr Gary Jones, Business Consultant, Australia, Member
Good leadership dictates focus by employees. Focus and direction are lost by ancillary distractions. Sure the devices spoken about are great - but in a meeting - not sure about that - the agenda can only be compromised by external distractions.
It is remarkable what can be obtained from expectations of an employee when they know what is required before the meeting. If need be employee's can be excused from a meeting to access information to support their position.

Thinking and Electronic Devices Can Be Utilized to Share with Group During Meetings
KATHRYN STEINER, MBA, Entrepreneur, United States, Member
Electronic devices should be utilized to share with the group pertinent information, not to convey personal information unless it is an absolute necessity.
I suppose what is and what is not a necessity is becoming more of a grey area. Can a screen from smartphone or iPhone be displayed for the group to see if something needs to be presented and is located on one of these devices? Probably the iPad has this functionality. Btw... How does one retrieve photos from the iPad... Lol.

Nomophobia: Permanently Using a Smartphone
Lionel MERCK, Director, France, Member
Watching constantly at your smartphone is a disease.
The fear of being out of mobile phone contact is called 'nomophobia' - , an abbreviation for "no-mobile-phone phobia". Obviouly this is not recommended within corporations. Certainly not in meetings. It's a serious desease, created by the arrival of the smart phone.
On the other hand, some will otherwise use their phones in the car. Which is even more dangerous for others as well.

Smart Phones in the Office
Grace Alleyne
The word 'fair' should not be in the equation when it comes to using smart phones for personal use in the business setting.
This issue relates directly to the organisation's ethics. It is the responsibility of the policy makers to ensure that smart phone usage is addressed and all employees understand and adhere to the policy. Effective meetings cannot be conducted if we are constantly on our phones for personal matters. Exception can/should be given to those job functions that require mobile phone usage in a business office.
As individuals we need to remember that we should show respect for ourselves and others by exhibiting good manners.

Smart Phones in Meetings: Consider Industrial Espionage
Bob Strasser, Canada, Member
Has anyone considered industrial espionage? While governments spend huge amounts trying to spy on each other, more money is lost through industrial espionage that all other forms put together. Any recording device should not be allowed in meetings.

Smart Phones Use can be Negative to the Company
Enesto Bonilla Sequeira, Accountant, Costa Rica, Member
The use of smart phones has to be regulated if you see some behavior of the workers.
Not everybody has the conviction to give maximum effort and time to the company.

Don't Allow any Recording Devices in Meetings, including Smart Phones!
Bob Strasser, Canada, Member
Remember Sun Tze. Intelligence is everything in battle.
Recording devices can not be allowed in strategic meetings.
Who cares what employees think? Employees think about their situation.
The reason for a corporation is it allows a group of people to get together to make more money than they can make individually but not if there is spy in your midst. I personally saw the lose of a billion dollar organization and 3000 jobs do to industrial espionage (spies) . No recording devices. Has anyone else seen this happen?

Social Networking at Work Place
Shubhra Gabel, Manager, India, Member
Social networking at workplace only shows that the employee finds more entertaining communication elsewhere than within his own office team. Social-networking then becomes anti-social. Instead of sharing work-load it is just transferred to colleagues. Social networking also results into loss of concentration. Even after several explanations persons are unable to grasp the matter or are so involved in social networking that they simply neglect work.