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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:
WhoKnowsWhereTheT1meGoes · 05/04/2016 07:39

I think you have to have the phone pretty close by for smart watched to work, DH has one and says really it just saves you getting it out of your pocket, doesn't work if it's in another room.

ArgyMargy · 05/04/2016 07:41

I'm more worried about a company that keeps people holding on a premium rate phone line for 20 minutes. Get a new job!

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 05/04/2016 07:44

Surely your manager at least has a direct dial number?! Someone must do! Find out who this is and ask if it is possible for nursery to contact in case of a genuine emergency.

Anything minor they can email you or discuss it at pick up time.

ForeverLivingMyArse · 05/04/2016 07:46

It's not ideal at all. I've usually got my phone on me but sometimes I'm in meetings where I can't so school etc would call my work number and they'd get the message to me. How do you call in sick?

I've worked in call centres and whilst no one could bring me direct unless going through the system, all the team leaders had lines. Not just for staff but for all sorts of calls. They must have something in place.

Shutthatdoor · 05/04/2016 07:53

It could be viewed as indirect sex discrimination for one

How?

I'm sure the ban isn't for women only. Hmm

Ragusa · 05/04/2016 07:54

Someone must have a landline. How would they alert you to e.g. an on-site emergency where it wasn't practical to walk the five minutes across from the other building.

Also what a ridiculous policy! Surely they could just reprimand those who are taking the piss.

Original poster
s88 · 05/04/2016 07:55

They really don't have another phone line . They just use their own personal phones .

If we need to call in sick we have the managers personal phone number to call .

Sounds pathetic written down as it is a big company

OP posts:
deplorabelle · 05/04/2016 07:57

The manager will have to let you use her personal number as nursery emergency contact then and she can run the errand to tell you

Lindy2 · 05/04/2016 08:01

If the only suitable number is in another building you need an emergency procedure where the nursery can call and ask for you to be immediately bought to that phone.
I am a childminder and would not pass on an important message about a child to a third party. I would need you to be bought to the phone to speak directly to you. I once had an emergency where I had to have a teacher fetched from her classroom by the school receptionist so I could speak to her. I held on the line until she got there. You would need to be clear with the nursery that it was only for situations that required immediate action though.

Ifailed · 05/04/2016 08:02

I can understand your worry, but many people are un-contactable via mobile phone at work, certainly most retailers ban them on the shop floor. Why not ask the nursery what other parents in a similar situation do?

ForeverLivingMyArse · 05/04/2016 08:06

It if I was in retail I would give the nursery the direct line for the shop and a message would get to me that way.

Verbena37 · 05/04/2016 08:08

Please don't get a small phone to put inside your bra.......there was a woman in the paper last week showing her breast cancer scans and she kept her phone inside her bra.
Not a good idea.

Your employer sounds overly unreasonable. They should make reasonable allowances for working parents who are emergency contacts for schools and nurseries, or as others have said, they should install a phone line, on which you're contactable.

Verbena37 · 05/04/2016 08:11

Oh and I would lovel to see how they reacted to a mum who has returned to work after birth who wanted to express milk. If they can provide a fridge for milk storage (which they have to do), they can provide a second phone line.

I would go to your manager the.n their manager if not and if no joy there, the union.

treaclesoda · 05/04/2016 08:12

I can understand the ban but I do think that management then have an obligation (moral obligation, I've no idea what the law says) to provide some other way of contacting you in an emergency.

It's all very well saying 'why can't your dh be the emergency contact' but for all we know his employer could have the same policy.

If for example you repeatedly took hours (and five hours between breaks isn't unusual in most workplaces) responding to a message from nursery about a sick child you could easily find yourself getting a visit from social services to check on your child's welfare as it can raise concerns about neglect. I'd feel mightily pissed off if my ability to care for my children were questioned due to my employers actions.

originalmavis · 05/04/2016 08:20

I keep mine with me at work as school always calls me if there's been an accident, DS has been sick, or - absolute classic - 'hi this the the school secretary, is littlemavis with you?' (No he was sitting in class and nobody had checked).

I'm not someone who sits playing with Facebook or tweeting and everyone I know knows that I really hate speaking on the phone anyway, so I don't take the Mickey using my phone at work.

I would say to management that the phone is necessary in case of childcare emergency. I've had a few calls over the years when I've had to get to school quickly.

Groovee · 05/04/2016 08:27

I'm not allowed my phone at work because of people like Vanessa George. I don't mind it but at least my children know where I am working for their school to call my work.

Kerberos · 05/04/2016 08:32

Seriously treacle? Neglect? Come on...

OP. This is unfair but you need to bring it up again in writing with your manager. If your nursery must have a way of contacting you then they need to ensure a system is in place to handle that.

If you don't get joy in that then try a level higher - or does your company have HR?

MummySparkle · 05/04/2016 08:34

I'd take it in every day (in a sock?) and put it in your desk drawer / a tissue box on silent. Preferably somewhere where it would be easy to glance at it if it is ringing without being obvious and only answer if it's nursery.

happyis · 05/04/2016 08:39

I would be tempted to give the managers personal number as emergency contact in that case!

Berthatydfil · 05/04/2016 08:43

I wouldn't be happy about having to leave my bag in an open corridor- it's just a matter of time before something gets stolen.

HildaFlorence · 05/04/2016 08:47

My son has this at work as he has access to bank details personal data etc and it's a security issue , but I know that there are people with children working there , I will ask him what their policy is .I think there is a direct line .

Coconutty · 05/04/2016 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ICJump · 05/04/2016 08:50

Provide the nursey with you managers mobile number

treaclesoda · 05/04/2016 08:55

Kerberes yes, I'm not saying the OP would be neglectful. I'm saying that if every time the school or nursery try to contact her saying 'your child is sick, you need to come and collect him/her' it takes hours and hours to respond then the nursery may well contact social services. It's pretty standard I'd have thought? I was just chatting recently to a friend who is a social worker and she had mentioned that it was standard in a good nursery. Not as a one off obviously, but if it happened repeatedly. That's why it popped into my mind when I read this.

CotswoldStrife · 05/04/2016 08:55

I would ask them about an emergency contact number but I don't think you need your mobile in the office. Phone bans are not uncommon at all.

As a former HR worker, we've been called to contact people or their next of kin.