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Original poster

Work phone dilemma!

97 replies

Doodleboodle · 14/01/2023 09:12

Hello, I’ve started at a new company. As part of my work, I get an iphone (as I think is the norm, it’s the property of company, so if I left, it would Obvs be returned). I also have my own iPhone with its own number.

qu: do you have a work phone?

If so, what did you do? do you just have one phone (and port your home number into work phone, abandon home phone), or do you have two phones?

I’m new to this malarkey and think I should probably only have one phone, since I now realise I don’t really want to cart two phones around, have contacts in different places, my kindle on my home phone and not my work phone, but I stupidly ordered a second one via work without specify the wish to port my number.

I have no idea how long I’ll work for this company, but hoping it’s a long term prospect. Also, if I do stick with two phones, anyone know if there maybe a way to mirror home phone contacts and kindle etc onto work phone (while keeping home phone)? Ug, I really don’t know what is best, and it’s driving me mad. I could still cancel the work phone and start again!

Thank you! And sorry this is quite a boring qu, I did wonder if I should make the headline more interesting in the hope that some kind person might reply!

OP posts:

PaniniHead · 14/01/2023 09:15

I have a work phone. I only need to switch it on when I’m travelling- mainly to access Teams and Outlook. Other than that people can get me on my laptop. But that might differ for you depending on what work you do.
I keep my work phone as work only. I have my personal phone as usual as I am not allowed to use my work phone for personal reasons.

starpatch · 14/01/2023 09:16

Erm so did your work say you can use as much data and calls as you like and make personal calls on your work phone? Wouldn't they mind if you changed the number? If yes to both of those then yes you could do that. I think in most jobs you would have to run 2 phones.

angelopal · 14/01/2023 09:17

Don't have a work phone but if I did I would keep it separate from a personal phone. All my apps, photos etc are private and nothing to with work so should not be on a work phone. Are there any company restrictions on what you can install on it?

How likely are they to contact you outside working hours? Are expected to be contactable? If you only hayone phone then they know you will have it on all the time. With a separate phone you can switch it off or leave at home

Jellycatspyjamas · 14/01/2023 09:18

I always keep my work phone separate. I turn it on when I’m working and put it away when I’m not, I don’t want to be available to my workplace 24/7.

whitesnowflake · 14/01/2023 09:18

I have 2 phones. I use my business phone for work purposes only and my personal phone is mine to use for everything else, all my personal stuff. IMO I like to keep clear boundaries between work and personal life, I work along enough hours as it is and if there's anything urgent work have my personal number. Also something to bear in mind as your work phone will be owned by your organisation, they have total ownership and it's common for companies to have some sort of monitor on usage etc and tracking on phones.

luckylavender · 14/01/2023 09:18

Keep it separate and decide further down the line.

InconvenientPeg · 14/01/2023 09:19

When I've had one, I've always kept them separate. If you don't, you can never switch off from work 🤷

mynameiscalypso · 14/01/2023 09:19

Two phones here. Mine are both iPhones so both linked to the same Apple account which means I can sync some things across them (eg iMessages, kindle) but I also have separate apps on my work phone for email, calendar etc. I like to be able to turn my work phone off when I'm not working. Most people I know do the same and have two separate phones.

ShadowPuppets · 14/01/2023 09:19

Two phones here. When I’m not working the work phone is in the kitchen and checked once a day. I tell people on my OOO to call the work mobile if it’s an emergency and I’ll get back to them as soon as possible. Wouldn’t want calls coming to my personal mobile.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/01/2023 09:20

I have two phones so I can turn my work phone off when I am not at work. We can use our work phones for personal calls, but have to go through an online statement every month and identify calls, texts etc to pay for - this cost is taken from our salary. Not sure what they do about internet/data use out of work.

MincePiesAreMyJam · 14/01/2023 09:20

Two phones here as well, we aren't allowed to mix work and home due to security issues. Not a big deal, I have two chargers in the car and charge them both on my way to work on between sites and that seems to suffice for my work one. You get used to carrying two quite quickly.

happygertie · 14/01/2023 09:20

I have a work phone and a personal phone.
I have kept both separate as I wasn't comfortable having all my apps on my work phone and I wasn't sure how managed the phone is by them.

I prefer it this way I turn my work phone off the second I finish work and don't turn it back on until I start work again.

Notanotherone5 · 14/01/2023 09:21

I also keep separate and only turn on work phone when I need to

however, it’s quite easy to have 2 lines on 1 iPhone (google iPhone dial SIM). You can choose which line you use to make phone calls (even specific different lines for different contacts) / texts / data etc. It doesn’t matter which SIM is in, both lines work

ohidoliketobe · 14/01/2023 09:21

2 phones.
Work phone for travelling, checking emails in meetings when I haven't taken my laptop. To allow my team to contact me when I'm travelling or in meetings. For my team to whatsapp me any quick messages e.g. they're running late. Its turned off outside of work hours.

Original poster

Doodleboodle · 14/01/2023 09:21

Ok really thank you for replying. Maybe I’ve done the right thing then. It is unlimited data etc, and the reason for having it is mostly for travel, to have internet access to work remotely etc, like @PaniniHead and I suppose for work related calls (though most calls will be via teams on my laptop, rather than via an iPhone number).

Since I’m new to the job, I haven’t asked colleagues if it’s ok to use the phone for personal reasons, there was nothing on the work website about this when I ordered the phone. I then began to wonder if I’d actually done the wrong thing by having two devices, and whether it would make more sense to have one.

OP posts:

DelurkingAJ · 14/01/2023 09:23

When I was first offered a work phone I ported my number and goodness did I regret it. When I became more senior it meant that I received calls morning, noon and night (best was a call from Saudi colleagues on Boxing Day, they were so lovely when I explained that nobody in the U.K. was working that day). Never again! And then the faff when I did leave. Always two phones!

HandbagsnGladrags · 14/01/2023 09:25

I use my personal phone for work. I don't have alerts set up for outlook or teams so when I'm not working I just don't look at those apps and I don't answer calls on my non working days unless it's a personal call.

SilliusSoddus · 14/01/2023 09:25

mynameiscalypso · 14/01/2023 09:19

This is what I do too.

Much easier all round.

Redblanky · 14/01/2023 09:26

I used to have two, but stupidly dropped my personal one in water and as a temporary measure until I replaced it, put a second SIM in my work phone. That works well for me , so I've never bothered replacing it.

I don't ever look at work emails out of hours though (as is company policy) and any work calls will be real dire emergencies. In a previous job I had 2 phones so I could leave work at home when I went out.

RedCarsGoFaster · 14/01/2023 09:26

I have a work iPhone and a personal Android. No way would I use the work phone for personal information unless in an emergency. I have been known to use it as a WiFi hotspot though.

Work is work. The phone is off as soon as I finish for the day.

Keep them separate. Don't cross over the boundaries.

ZenNudist · 14/01/2023 09:26

2 phones here. I've always kept things very separate. I just keep my work phone with my laptop although on work days when travelling it will go in my bag so I do have 2 phones on me. I mainly use it for email and teams on the go.

Original poster

Doodleboodle · 14/01/2023 09:29

Redblanky · 14/01/2023 09:26

can you explain this a bit more? Do you have two SIM cards in the same phone? If so, how is this done?

thanks so much to everyone for their feedback. The nature of my past work has been such that I’ve had terrible work/home boundaries (I had my own business) so it’s v v v good to be reminded that this is my healthy!!

OP posts:

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 14/01/2023 09:30

I have two phones, my work phone goes on in work hours only.

Original poster

Doodleboodle · 14/01/2023 09:30

Typo that this is NOT healthy (ie to have poor boundaries!)

OP posts:

OOAOML · 14/01/2023 09:32

If you're using it for travel then I don't see a problem installing Kindle app etc which you would use when travelling.

I've just been made redundant but in my experience work phone was for work calls and travel (had iPad then laptop for remote access). I liked switching it off after work and not having work emails flash up at me (if it was urgent I knew key people had my personal number so no need to leave it on just in case) and I wouldn't have wanted my personal life on it. I liked the separation (and it made factory resetting my equipment for redundancy pick-up much easier but that's hopefully a very niche concern ).

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