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Original poster

Phone ban at work - childcare worry

89 replies

s88 · 05/04/2016 07:00

My manager has recently implemented a phone ban in our office .

This is due to new starters taking advantage and being on them more than they should be. Ruining it for everyone else.

My worry now is that I have a 2 year old in nursery 3 days a week and if there was an issue with my child,the nursery would not be able to contact me.

We do not have a direct phone number in our office for them to call on only a premium rate number which you are on hold for around 20 minutes.

I do not think I am being unreasonable to want my phone , on silent, even restricted if need be, to be able to be reached by my childcare provider .

Am I being OTT or valid point?

OP posts:
stilllovingmysleep · 05/04/2016 07:01

A phone ban?! Is that even legal?Hmm

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:07

I have no idea !

I think it is something you do to children in high school , not to staff in a workplace.

OP posts:
Phineyj · 05/04/2016 07:12

I think you ned to take this up with your manager/manager's manager/union if there is one as your point is entirely reasonable. It could be viewed as indirect sex discrimination for one thing and worry is hardly going to help your productivity! You will presumably also be breaking your contract with the nursery.

OddBoots · 05/04/2016 07:12

The staff in the nursery will understand as nursery workers have to have their phones locked away too (and there are moves for the same for staff in schools, care homes and hospitals too).

Your management need to have a phone line installed for emergency calls in though if they want this to happen. Has there been any discussion about it before it is brought in?

DubiousCredentials · 05/04/2016 07:19

Do you have a dp/dh who could be the nursery emergency contact?

Surely you can't be prevented from having your phone in your bag or locker though? Where I last worked we were most definately not allowed our phones on us but they were kept with our bags in our lockers or left in cars so could be checked at breaks etc.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 05/04/2016 07:21

I work in a prison,no mobile phones even allowed in let alone on, it's never been a problem because we have direct dial numbers and personal email.

Ask if a direct line can be installed so that parents can be contacted by school/nursery if there is a problem.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 05/04/2016 07:21

I have this at work and just have my phone on vibrate in my bra as managers implemented pocket searches to make sure no one had a phone in their pocket.

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:21

No discussion or warnings given to those over using .

My husband works 2 hours away so it's not even an option for them to contact him and for him to get back if needed.

I came into work last week and was told all phones had to be left in the corridor with bags and not allowed to be used other than at break times .

I work for 5 hours and do not get a break time and worry that if I had started my shift and there was an issue , I would not know about it for 4-5 hours.

I have been contemplating spending £100+ on a smart watch just so I can have an alert of who is calling me!

OP posts:
WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 05/04/2016 07:23

Is the manager going to pay to replace any stolen phones which are left in the corridor?

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:23

I don't think putting it in my bra would work as it's very big (not the bra, the phone Blush note 4)

I could possibly put it at the back of my trousers , I have been messing with disabling any shortcut buttons that may make a noise if accidently pressed.

OP posts:
wetsnow · 05/04/2016 07:23

I work in a school so obviously can't answer my phone when teaching.
The nursery for my 2 year old have my work number. Simples.

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:24

Very doubtful they would replace any phones !

Which is an issue in itself , especially with new staff starting / leaving

OP posts:
WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 05/04/2016 07:24

Get a smaller payg phone for work which fits in your bra and your dp and childminder have that number?

DingbatsFur · 05/04/2016 07:24

The fitbit charge has calling alerts if that helps. I would discuss this with your manager though!

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:25

Not very simples when the work phone number is a premium rate number for a company who have no landline, with a wait time of Atleast 20 minutes

OP posts:
WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 05/04/2016 07:25

They need to provide lockers for you to put your phones and bags in. We've had people had phones pinched out the staff room at work.

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:27

I will have a look at both of those options , I'm sure I have a basic old phone lying around somewhere in the house .

I will also be raising it with the manager though

OP posts:
guineapig1 · 05/04/2016 07:28

It is common not to be allowed access to your mobile phone in work BUT there should be a dedicated incoming line for emergencies which is answered immediately

Kennington · 05/04/2016 07:29

I wouldn't worry so much.
You surely can check your phone during breaks.
Lots of work places have a phone ban.
Plus they can alway call your husband for advice - e.g to ask if you child needs Calpol
The nursery should only call rarely anyway
I have missed thetr calls due to meetings a lot. There isn't much you can do, just call them back later.

Phineyj · 05/04/2016 07:30

Need not ned!

Primaryteach87 · 05/04/2016 07:33

This is normal if you work in a school BUT we do have a school number we can give out and also can check at lunchtime our phones. So I don't think yabu. Have you tried explaining the situation to your manager. Unless they are a %#^* they will probably let you keep it.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 05/04/2016 07:33

Could you ask them to email instead? If you are office based you'd see the email pretty quickly I presume and then you can call them?

cleanandclothed · 05/04/2016 07:33

The problem is the lack of landline. I would be surprised if the landline can't be phoned directly and I think you need to be provided with the number, or a route of having a message passed on. However don't go in saying 'I need to be contactable as my husband works 2 hours away' as that indicates it is always going to be you (and hence your work) that gets put out if there is an issue. Say 'there are likely to be times when my husband is uncontactable/working away so the nursery like 2 emergency contacts'. And if at all possible make sure your husband sometimes does step in - if not with an emergency pick up then by taking a days holiday to look after a sick child.

In practice there will be a number of jobs where mobiles are banned, but should be a route of getting really urgent messages passed on.

thecapitalsunited · 05/04/2016 07:34

Those smart watches rely on the phone to do a lot of the work so I'm not sure call alerts would work if the phone was in another room.

As others have said, no phones isn't unusual in workplaces but you need to discuss with management how you are to be contacted in an emergency.

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:38

To shed some extra light , we're based in a separate building to the main part, which for someone else to pass on a message it would take them to walk from the main building to ours , around 5 minutes and no way would rely on them to do this. I wouldn't get the message .

I am in today so I will bring it up with management , we also do not have lockers , just a row of coat pegs to put our stuff .

It's basically a call centre next to a main company so they don't have to deal with calls.

OP posts: