If your employee owns a cell phone, there’s a good chance they are stealing from you.

What are they stealing?  TIME!

This afternoon I had the occasion to watch the guys from the trash company collect our recycling.

It went something like this…

1) While talking on his cell phone, the guy using his free hand attempted clumsily to navigate the collection container up my driveway.

2) Then, again while using his free hand, the guy slowly loaded my recyclables into the collection container.

3) Then, after pausing for a rest (while talking on the phone) he slowly walked back down my driveway.

4) Upon arriving at his truck and realizing that he would need two hands to empty the container, he proceeded to talk on his phone for several minutes until his buddy came over and used his free hand (yes, he was also talking on his cell phone) to help lift the can.

When I last saw them, they were both still walking slowly and talking on the phone.  I wish I had it on video.

Here’s my point.  While this example is particularly aggregious, it is emblematic of what I consider to be a major problem.

Too many employees have come to consider it normal and acceptable to talk on the phone while being paid by their employers to do work.

They work more slowly and less effectively. In my mind they are stealing time and destroying productivity.

Attention employers… you have the right to expect your employees full time and attention while on the job.

Cell phones & work don’t mix.

Ban those cell phones!