Are Cell Phones Costing You Business?

Filed in archive Human Resources on August 18, 2008

Is someone in your store driving away customers?

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Peter Elvidge

No business can afford to loose customers, much less a small business owner so that is why it is so important to insure that none of your employees is doing anything than could possible drive away a customer.

The creation of the cell phone and the use of text messaging has become a hot item of debate. Many of today's teenagers raised with these items see no reason why they should not have their cell phones on them at all times even at work.

How do you deal with the situation?

One company I know of has banned employees from having cell phones on their person at any time while they are on the clock. However, if you are going to enforce this rule you must enforce it for everyone the same. I know of one case were one supervisor's father was in a terrible accident. He was given special permission to have the cell phone on him incase of an important call.

But why should he be given special exemptions? After all, anyone wanting to get a hold of him could just as easily called the store directly and reached him, so if it was allowed for him why not others? Within a short time this employee was taking advantage of the exemption which lowered moral throughout the store.

If you are going to enforce a policy, whatever it may be you must be consistent with every employee you have.

For more on this check out the Home Biz Notes Blog.