What powers does my employer have?

Hey guys,

As some of you know I am royally ****ed off with my current job, but in the current climate, it pays the bills so I'm sticking it out while I look for something else...

Just recently though things are getting downright nasty and / or absurd.

The 'daily team brief' that my supervisor does every day is now turning into the 'daily team threat'. Ok, so a lot of the morons I work with behave like children all the time and only understand threats made in a manner that reminds me of high school, but the latest threat this morning really P'd me off. It was basically that they don't want anyone having personal mobile phones on their desk and if they spot people leaving their phone out, they will confiscate it?!? Personally I reckon my supervisor is talking out of his backside, surely they haven't got the power to confiscate personal property for no reason??

Can anyone please point me in the direction of some information that shows exactly what powers an employer has, cos I'd love to be able to shove it under his nose and contradict him if & when he tries to actually carry out any of this crap with me!

Thanks

[Bluepete]

Stop moaning and get back to work......

Your employer has the right to dictate what can/cannot be on their desks, during work time.

Your employer has the right to establish a policy whereby mobile phones cannot be used (other than those supplied by the employer) during work hours. However, if you haven't had that policy written down, I personally wouldn't listen to it whatsoever.

What they don't have the right to do, is confiscate personal property. They can insist that you put it away in a pocket/bag etc, but they can't take it from you.

If you happen to leave your phone out & it gets confiscated, request that they give it back so that you can put it away. If they don't, point them towards The Theft Act (as it's actually theft). Give them time to read & digest it, then make the request again.

If they still don't give it back, tell them that you'll be talking to your Union rep/solicitor (or the police if there's no union).

In my workplace we had a letter saying there is too much excessive use of personal mobile phones by way of text messaging. A select few really take the P and are still doing it like crazy. It stops them doing their job and sends a bad message to staff lower in status who now also have started to use their mobiles. I turn mine to silent, put it into my bag and check it whenever I have a break.
Some say they need it because the school might call for an emergency! But we have a private line installed and paid for by the company for this purpose. So they really dont need the mobile at all.
Excuse me everybody, but those of us who are lucky enough to still have a job should be pleased and should be trying to keep it. So we should do our job and not be frigging about on our mobile phones.
Rant over, now go ride your bikes for three days and chill out peeps

Keep it in your shirt pocket with an absurdly obscene ring tone and get somebody to ring you at regular intervals but don't answer it and when questioned ask if it is OK for you to accept personal calls on the business phone and put it on divert.
Alternatively leave it on your desk but switched off or on silent and if they go to touch it rap the naughty childs knuckles with a ruler
Sounds like you are being treated like a kid i.e no sweeties,no chewing gum etc.

[Bibio]

your employer pays you a wage to do a job.. not to sit talking/txt'ing/playing on your mobile... why should you have your mobile out on your desk?

if i was an employer i would not put up with either..

and no your employer has no right to 'confiscate' your property.. that acts as theft..

now stop your moaning and get back to work.... rofl

We are not even allowed phones on site, they have only recently said we can leave them in our cars and check them at lunchtimes. (Not that many pay attention to this rule but we would only have ourselves to blame if they took action)

Guys I'm not moaning about not being able to use my mobile - I don't sit here texting all day like some of my 'colleagues' do & if anyone does call me I usually just give the supervisor a quick shout 'do you mind if i answer this?' and / or tell the caller I will call back when I'm having a break / lunch.

I just wanted to be able to stand my ground if / when they do decide they don't like something I'm doing & try to take action that they have no right to take (confiscation of property in this case). Thanks for the advice, if they try taking anything I will kick up one hell of a s***storm!!

By the way, the irony of being sat here typing this when I should be working is not entirely lost on me!

We are not allowed mobiles in the office either. But that is more down to the work we do rather than time spent texting. If there are others abusing the fact they can use their mobile when ever they can and do so all the time, then it is them that need a punch in the face for taking away that privilege for the rest. As a person responsible for a handful of office staff, when I have to be authoritive I do so to the whole group. But I also approach those it is not aimed at before hand and let them know the rant is coming and not to take it personally. Maybe your supervisor could have taken this stance.

[timwilky]

I agree you should not have your mobile at work. Turn it off and pick up any voice mail after work.

Does not apply to most people I work with though as our mobiles are work provided, hee hee.