The easiest step is to simply remind employees about company policies on the appropriate use of smart phones in the workplace, writers Greg Denaro, a contributing writer and manager of HR services for Insperity.
If a company doesn’t have a policy, then they need to come up with one and also to be clear on consequences. “If the IT department monitors company-owned cellphone use, employees should be fully aware and understand the consequences of policy violations,” Denaro notes.
Companies, however, need to avoid taking broad action or lash out at an entire team, which might drive morale down, if problems stem from a few employees. Employees also have a life outside of work and companies need to be understanding when emergencies come up.
Employees “don’t live in a vacuum, and unpredictability is part of life,” Denaro writes. Cars break down and kids get sick. Even pets create urgent situations that need to be dealt with.”