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Original poster

Work wants to add my personal mobile to email signature?

59 replies

Lucia23 · 02/02/2022 12:19

I started a new job recently and they have asked me to do this. I have been provided with a new laptop but not a business mobile.

They are allowing me to work hybrid and so Im expected to be available for calls as I would be at a desk. But no one has really needed to call so far as they tend to be on zoom.

At my previous job I would give out my number to clients and they would call when it is necessary. My previous email sig had the company number. But the thought of every other person I email having my number isn't great. Wwyd?

OP posts:

ShadowPuppets · 02/02/2022 12:52

I’m explicitly banned from using my personal phone for any work calls/messages, simply because IT don’t know what kind of security I’ve got on there and so technically if there was a data breach of client info we’d be in deep shit (whereas we have suitable security on work mobiles.) Definitely stick to your guns on this.

Even the people I know who are self employed have a ‘personal’ phone and a ‘work’ one, if only so if they have some separation from work when they turn it off.

Violetroselily · 02/02/2022 12:53

No chance, they need to provide you with a mobile or desk number that can be diverted, or a VOIP phone on your desktop.

I only have "Please call on Skype/Teams" in my signature now, as our VOIP technology is awful and I was sick of having to turn my desk phone on and off divert to my mobile. Appreciate this might not be doable if you need to be contacted by external people.

Alicetheowl · 02/02/2022 12:54

Cheap PAYG mobile for £15. Office hours only-obviously use a bit of discretion, if you know your boss is in a meeting until 6 and might want a quick catch up you don't need to turn it off bang on 5.

Original poster

Lucia23 · 02/02/2022 12:56

@Velvian is this doing via VOIP/something the org would need to set up?

OP posts:

Fundays12 · 02/02/2022 12:57

No way they are asking you to give out your private number to all and sundry. If they want you to be contactable by phone they provide a phone. I had a company do this and told them no way, no how and not ever basically.

irishfarmer · 02/02/2022 12:58

Nope! When I started my new job WFH, my company offered to take over my phone contract , I declined and they provided a work phone. I would hate getting work calls on my personal mobile when not at work.

If they won't provide a phone I'd buy the cheapest phone I could on PAYG. Only top it up often enough for the number not to go dormant. If you have to make calls use your personal phone with the number blocked, and give out the other no for ppl to call you back.

girlmom21 · 02/02/2022 13:02

Definitely don't it. You'll instantly get calls on an evening/weekend/annual leave.

Velvian · 02/02/2022 13:03

@Lucia23, the organisation. They really should set this up if they need you to be contactable from outside, or provide a work mobile.

SeasonFinale · 02/02/2022 13:08

Work phone all the way. You surely aren't expected to pay for outgoing calls

Flamingosarentreal · 02/02/2022 13:16

A colleague gave out my personal mobile number to a particularly demanding senior manager and he rang me at weekends, non working days etc. It was awful.
I didn't find out who gave it out but as I am very careful who has my personal number so have a fair idea although they denied it when asked .
I have a work phone now and its only on during my working hours.

purplesequins · 02/02/2022 13:20

totally unreasonable.

we make outside phonecalls via a messenger app and also receive outside calls this way on the company's direct extension.

BobbieT1999 · 02/02/2022 13:28

You don't work for my ex employer do you?

Being available on a mobile phone is a fundamental part of my role and I was astonished to be told they wouldn't provide one when I joined.

I told them I used payg as part of a budgeting drive and bought a cheap one. Eventually, clients got so fed up that I didn't have a business phone they forced the issue.

whywouldntyou · 02/02/2022 13:33

The first time you answer to a client'Yo bro, wass going down man?' will be the last time your work will expect you to take a work call on your personal mobile.

WonderfulYou · 02/02/2022 13:34

I would speak to them or just buy a cheap £10 phone from tesco and use that number.

amusedbush · 02/02/2022 13:37

Absolutely not. I've had the same number for 10+ years and I don't intend to change it so there's no way I would be putting it out there in my email signature. I'm shocked they would ask you to do that, to be honest; they should definitely provide a phone if they expect you to use it for work.

Time40 · 02/02/2022 13:39

If they won't provide a phone I'd buy the cheapest phone I could on PAYG. Only top it up often enough for the number not to go dormant

You don't need to top them up to stop them going dormant. You just need to make an outgoing call every so often ... the tricky thing is knowing how often. I make an outgoing call on mine at least once every four months, and that keeps it active, but I'm probably doing more than I need to do.

ANameChangeAgain · 02/02/2022 13:44

I think to stop people bothering you outside of work time, get a second fairly basic "professional use only" phone and put the contract on expenses. Put it on mute outside of office hours. (You are still contactable on a duel sim phone). Once a colleague has your personal number there is nothing you can do to stop them giving it out to everyone in the organisation (except perhaps the data protection act!) This way you can keep work and personal completely separate. By rights they should give you a work mobile, but so many lines are blurred by wfh, and it isn't unreasonable for them to need to call you.

ChangingLife · 02/02/2022 13:44

I’d get a very cheap PAYG phone.
I would then out ut in silent and only check it from time to time.

Nothing is saying that you are supposed to check your Spero als phone all the time after all.
If they want you to be contactable, then need to provide you with a phone. They also need to be clear as to WHEN you should be available (eg are you supposed to be on call at the weekends?)

mirabellemadrigal · 02/02/2022 13:45

Why wld people need to reach you on your mobile?

Don't they have a switchboard/receptionist?

megletthesecond · 02/02/2022 13:45

Big no. They want you to add a number they provide the phone.

IntermittentParps · 02/02/2022 13:55

They can organise and pay for a work phone for you. No way would I give my personal phone number out.

SocialConnection · 02/02/2022 13:57

NO. Would you let them put your home landline number on it? This is your privacy.

amusedbush · 02/02/2022 13:58

@mirabellemadrigal

Why wld people need to reach you on your mobile?

Don't they have a switchboard/receptionist?

I've worked in places ranging from tiny four-person offices to massive national companies and none of them have had a switchboard or receptionist to put a call through. The number for my desk phone has either been on the website or in my email signature so if someone external needed me, they looked me up and called direct.

MzHz · 02/02/2022 14:01

absolutely this!

They want a mobile number, they pay for it!

Our organisation got us mobiles they have barely any data, but that’s absolutely fine as we’re at home on Wi-Fi anyway

Just say that you need to keep work and home separate and that will keep your personal number off the email signature. Suggest that if they need a work number, you’d prefer them to supply you with a phone for that purpose

Our phones are managed by the company, downloads are controlled, airdrop disabled all for security reasons, so this is the bare minimum they needed to do

sillysmiles · 02/02/2022 14:08

@mirabellemadrigal

Why wld people need to reach you on your mobile?

Don't they have a switchboard/receptionist?

Even if they did have a switch - how is reception meant to transfer calls to the OP when she's working at home?

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