Do you have a work cell phone? What would you do...

[nkereina]

I've been told at work that I need to have a work cell phone, because I'll be doing some traveling that will require me to need a phone for work calls and work foots the bill for that. They've given me two options:

1. Get an iPhone from work that is owned by work, paid for by work, and can only be used for work (no apps). I'll inevitably have to carry two iPhones around frequently - my personal one and my work one. However, I can shut the work one off at nights and on weekends.

2. "Bring your own device" - allow work to install the security software I need for email, etc on my own personal iPhone, work takes over my phone bill, and I can continue to use my phone as normal. It will be both my personal and work phone, which essentially means I can never really "shut off" my phone. I can see myself walking through Disney and have my phone go off with work people calling Obviously the thought of no phone bill is very appealing.

What would you do?

 

[Ladcassidy]

BYOD. It's great to have everything you need in one place. When you go to Disney, you can easily turn off notifications/ push for work email, and caller ID will let you know whether a specific incoming call is something you want/ need to answer in the parks.

 

[WDWBarb]

Second option, for sure!

 

[nkereina]

BYOD. It's great to have everything you need in one place. When you go to Disney, you can easily turn off notifications/ push for work email, and caller ID will let you know whether a specific incoming call is something you want/ need to answer in the parks.

Good points, thanks for the reply. I'm the kind of person who finds it hard to shut off unless I physically do it. My colleagues text a lot which I can't really shut off and if I see work calling, it's going to bug me until I know what its for (there's constant fire drills at my work). I know I'll be checking voicemails and responding to texts during my time off including nights and weekends, and I worry about that. But as you mention, having everything in one place + no phone bill is giving me some pause!

 

[cluvsdisney]

I would go with option 1. I wouldn't want my job to install anything on my personal phone or monitor my phone usage. I also wouldn't want to have work calls, texts and emails coming through at times that I am not required to be on call.

 

[Ladcassidy]

My office is BYOD, and has been since crackberries were the hot ticket, so I speak from long experience. Yes, you will find yourself looking at work emails, voicemails, etc. on your personal/work phone at odd hours, and responding more than you would like on your own time. But if you are actually as engaged as you suggest above, having two different devices won't stem the tide completely. You'll just end up keeping track of things on two different phones. . .

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Second option. My husband was permitted to use his work phone for personal use. So an option that allows you to use the phone for both work and personal would be better, IMO.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I carry two phones. I would not like anyone from work or my clients having my personal phone number. Many people
cannot keep the line drawn between personal and professional. I also would not want my personal phone coverage monitored
and can't imagine what a pain should something happen to that phone.

 

[POOHsie]

If you are on vacation from work, is there a reason you need to be available for work-related emails and calls? I've asked this question of others, and got an assortment of answers. So my next question would be, can you go on vacation somewhere that your work phone can't reach?

 

[WDWAurora]

I work in a job that is school related. I did not want parents and principals having my personal number. I have a dinky flip phone for work, but our email is gmail based, so I can check it from my personal phone. The work phone I use for calls and some texts. I leave it on my desk if I am going on vacation (in a locked office) and don't have to worry about it. I do still get stray calls and texts from the friends from work and the boss, but it's minimal.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My husband's cell is his work-phone.
They just got everyone new I-phones... Nice!

But, note that he would not have a lot of issues with excess work related stuff coming in at all hours/days.
And, he is the type who will save money whenever possible.

If constant ongoing work stuff coming in would be an issue, as you seem to feel it will be... I might find it worth it to keep my own cellphone.

Only you know if that is something that would really be worth it to you!

 

[megsters]

My husband's company went to BYOD over the last few years as contracts were expiring.

The route he went with it, was using a Google voice number for business purposes. This way he still has some division between work/personal on his cell. He carried two devices for years, and much prefers carrying one. When he isn't on call or secondary, or on vacation, he can choose to block the Google voice if he wishes.

 

[sam_gordon]

The ease of only carrying and keeping up with one device GREATLY outweighs the hassle of getting work calls while "off" for me.

I'll answer emails, calls, and text when I'm "off the clock" currently. Most things can be settled in a minute or two. I consider that a trade off to "non work" time (talking with coworkers, getting a snack, etc) that happen during my work day. If something takes an inordinate amount of time, I'll submit a time sheet for it.

 

[MickeySP]

I've been told at work that I need to have a work cell phone, because I'll be doing some traveling that will require me to need a phone for work calls and work foots the bill for that. They've given me two options:

1. Get an iPhone from work that is owned by work, paid for by work, and can only be used for work (no apps). I'll inevitably have to carry two iPhones around frequently - my personal one and my work one. However, I can shut the work one off at nights and on weekends.

2. "Bring your own device" - allow work to install the security software I need for email, etc on my own personal iPhone, work takes over my phone bill, and I can continue to use my phone as normal. It will be both my personal and work phone, which essentially means I can never really "shut off" my phone. I can see myself walking through Disney and have my phone go off with work people calling Obviously the thought of no phone bill is very appealing.

What would you do?

First rule.

#1 by far, do not let work in on your private phone EVER!!! Just like using email on work computer they can access your private life. I don't know what your profession is but in mine keep work off any personal devices.

 

[NewRVLady]

My DH's personal phone was his work phone-he shut it off every day at 5 and on weekends. WE had a family ongoing text that he never did with us, because phone off too much.
Now that we are retired, his phone is always on, he loves the family text and the ICloud pic sharing of our grandson.

DS has 2 phones-I prefer this, he still has a phone that has only personal calls and texts

 

[NewRVLady]

First rule.

#1 by far, do not let work in on your private phone EVER!!! Just like using email on work computer they can access your private life. I don't know what your profession is but in mine keep work off any personal devices.

I agree with this!!! my old manager let the Bosss load company stuff to her phone and she was VERY hesitant to do a group text with her buddies, afraid boss could read!!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Good points, thanks for the reply. I'm the kind of person who finds it hard to shut off unless I physically do it. My colleagues text a lot which I can't really shut off and if I see work calling, it's going to bug me until I know what its for (there's constant fire drills at my work). I know I'll be checking voicemails and responding to texts during my time off including nights and weekends, and I worry about that. But as you mention, having everything in one place + no phone bill is giving me some pause!

I would go with option 2 and I would even go as far as to say you *should* still be answering texts/emails occasionally while not at work. It's just the way things are now. Dh has (sort of) this arrangement. I'm not sure what you mean by "take over" your phone bill. DH submits his phone bill to AP, but not all 100+ pages that shows every text and call on all 4 phones. They aren't monitoring what he does, but yes, they do need some proof of payment to reimburse him.

But, that's just the culture of his office and his profession. How is it like for others in your office? I can tell you that if someone there said they preferred two phones so they could avoid answering calls/emails at night and on weekends, it wouldn't look good.

 

[Happy Snowman]

My husband's company went to BYOD over the last few years as contracts were expiring.

The route he went with it, was using a Google voice number for business purposes. This way he still has some division between work/personal on his cell. He carried two devices for years, and much prefers carrying one. When he isn't on call or secondary, or on vacation, he can choose to block the Google voice if he wishes.

I've used my own phone for work for over 10 years. Yes, checking work emails and text messages when you don't really need to happens but you can set that email to stop notifications after 5 and on weekends so you aren't getting notices that they are there. Not sure what to do about the text messages but you could at least put your phone on silent after a certain time.

I like the google voice phone option above. Great idea if your company allows that.

I'd go with option 2.

 

[SC Minnie]

I have the 2nd option. I didn't want to carry around 2 phones. I do end up checking my work emails while sitting on the beach or walking around WDW but my boss or coworkers do not call me while on vacation unless its an emergency.

Our company is actually going away from company supplied phones and almost exclusively to BYOD.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

DH has a work phone that he's allowed to use for personal use. He uses it just like a regular phone. We don't see any reason to pay for a seperate personal phone.

I can't imagine anyone from his work is reading all his texts and emails. They would have a full time job reading everyone's messages! However, he also isn't texting or messaging anything that would get him in trouble so it's not a big deal. I guess if he had something to hide it would be a problem.

He turns it off most nights at 11. He does get some work calls and emails on vacations, but he has caller ID and can choose when to answer. It really isn't a big deal.

He has used a work phone for personal use for 20 years with no problems.