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I recently read an about how people were willing to pay for their own smartphones to have more flexibility at work…you know so they could be more mobile and work where they want. I think the stat that blew me away was the fact that only 11% of the workforce has company supplied smart phones and yet 39% of consumers say they own a smartphone. So clearly people are already paying for this…
And when I thought about this I took a trip in the “way back” machine…to a time when smartphones weren’t all the rage and even cell phones weren’t nearly as prolific….
I was working on the Olympics for TV which meant I wasn’t always in the office. I’d have to go to the various venues and do some work. One day an email came around asking us all for our cell phone numbers so the office could get in touch while we were on the road. They assured us any and all charges incurred for business would be paid by the company.
I told them I didn’t have one since I didn’t – the powers that be grumbled.
A young co-worker happily gave them his number – the powers that be smiled.
Time went on and I saw my co-worker was often submitting highlighted cell phone bills, being given the third degree about whether those calls were really necessary business calls, and then waiting 3 months to get the money back that he had already paid out to his cell phone provider.
He grumbled.
I smiled.
Time went by and now it was almost “games-time”, when things can get a little hectic and no one is in the office. So another email came around. Once again they needed cell phone numbers…no really, really…they said.
Once again I told them I did not have one. I was asked to buy one. I told them no. I explained that if they needed me to have a cell phone they would need to provide me with one.
They grumbled.
I smiled. And I was handed a phone.
Why is this story relevant? Because I think it shows how easily employees are willing to give an employer something they don’t deserve for free. If you are mobile because of your job…and your employer expects you to be on top of email…then they should provide you with a smartphone. If they don’t, they clearly do not feel that being in touch when you’re mobile is necessary – so why do workers?
I agree with the article…workers are getting a raw deal but I’m not sure that’s the company’s fault. Why wouldn’t the company take something for free that benefits them. The question is why are workers so willing to provide it? As always I welcome your thoughts.
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Comments
01.22.10
Great thoughts on setting and maintaining personal boundaries at work. Lots of pressure to say "Yes" when you need to say "No."
01.22.10
I feel like if the employee starts making concessions with pay or benefits to their employer, it's a slippery slope. Imagine the concept of taking a pay cut for increased location independence and suddenly your employer wants you working even MORE hours? It's really an absurd paradigm. I think if you're working a salaried full time job and you're good at what you do, you'll wind up working a lot of hours pretty regularly, turning out a product and satisfying the basic needs of your job, if not more. There's no need to take a pay cut just so that you can work outside of your office.
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