That Samsung ad was about the creepiest I've ever seen. Guaranteed to get phones banned.
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Apple Watch: Banned at Work? [MERGED]
- Thread starter cwosigns
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While some companies ban cell phones for security reasons, others prohibit them for productivity reasons.
We are there to work, not talk on the phone or text. If there's an emergency, then your spouse, family, or child, school, etc. can call the office phone.
The smart watches are simply a way to circumvent the rules. Therefore also being prohibited.
I've worked for places where you had to lock your phone up at the beginning of the day. And you could use it on breaks, and during your lunch hour. If you were found to have it with you at any other time, then you were fired on the spot.
It's not always about security. Often it's just about the employer not paying you to waste time on personal matters. And if the business has an office phone, then there's no reason you need a personal phone while you're working.
Yes we all like to be able to handle little personal things quickly on the sly. But it's not what we're being paid to do.
Since smart watches could talk with a phone that's hidden, it makes total sense that smart watches are being prohibited.
We are there to work, not talk on the phone or text. If there's an emergency, then your spouse, family, or child, school, etc. can call the office phone.
The smart watches are simply a way to circumvent the rules. Therefore also being prohibited.
I've worked for places where you had to lock your phone up at the beginning of the day. And you could use it on breaks, and during your lunch hour. If you were found to have it with you at any other time, then you were fired on the spot.
It's not always about security. Often it's just about the employer not paying you to waste time on personal matters. And if the business has an office phone, then there's no reason you need a personal phone while you're working.
Yes we all like to be able to handle little personal things quickly on the sly. But it's not what we're being paid to do.
Since smart watches could talk with a phone that's hidden, it makes total sense that smart watches are being prohibited.
I don't know how reasonable or flexible your boss is, but could you make the case that the Apple Watch is too tiny to be distracting and that you wear it to monitor and improve your fitness and health? Most workplaces encourage healthy habits, and you might even ask if the health insurance provider for your company offers discounts for people who wear a device that counts steps or activity (there are some that do).
Since nobody else at your company wears a smartwatch, and your boss did not know about yours, it sounds like a blanketed policy was issued to cover all personal electronic gadgets without any consideration for how a smartwatch and a smartphone might be different when it comes to the distraction factor.
If your boss won't budge, then ask what would be permissible? A fitness band? Many of those include smartwatch features, so the policy needs to be specific. Is it the size of the display on the watch that is the problem? Or is it features like text, email and phone notifications? The more specifics you request in the interest of complying with the policy, the more likely they are to realize that perhaps the policy is a bit silly (especially when you explain to them that you will lose money by selling your used Apple Watch and then purchasing a compliant device).
I am a manager who has written and rewritten many policies over the years, so I know asking for clarification often works. It makes the person who wrote the policy think about it more, and believe me there are a lot of policies that get written with minimal thought. I know there are places that ban gadgets because they are security risks or health risks (because they can create a dangerous distraction or introduce opportunities for cross-contamination in a kitchen or laboratory). I can also see banning a smartphone in a general workplace environment because of the distraction factor, but smartwatches are kind of the opposite... they are meant to minimize distractions by providing useful or timely information in a glance.
If your boss still won't budge and says no to anything worn on the wrist that connects to a smartphone, just get something like a Fitbit One and keep it in your pocket for fitness monitoring. Wear your Apple Watch when you are away from work, or on days when you wear long sleeves. It kind of stinks that you wouldn't be able to use the AW for fitness, but some people prefer other trackers anyway. Fitbit doesn't sync to Apple Health, but I think some other bands or devices do.
Sean
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As a manager who writes policies like these, I think you're really stretching to say a smartwatch is simply a way to circumvent the rules. They are too small to provide a lasting distraction and using one for complex communication is too difficult. If someone is going to use a smartwatch to avoid doing actual work, then they will stop at nothing to avoid actual work. I can understand banning smartphones, which really can be distracting (I often put mine out of site to avoid it)... but if you ban smartwatches for productivity reasons you might as well take away pens and paper because they might doodle the time away instead. When you are worried that doodling on paper or wearing a smartwatch is too distracting, it's time to admit that you have a more significant performance issue with that employee that needs to be addressed. My two-dozen employees all have Internet access on their computers, so they have even better options for distractions. As their manager I know who is productive and who I need to have a talk with.
I use my smartwatch for work-related productivity (my work-related task lists, Skype for Business, Slack, my work calendar, etc.), but even as much as I use my Smartwatch for little things throughout the day, those brief glances and interactions don't add up to much. I spend more time on bathroom breaks or refilling coffee and water (and even those breaks fit within the permitted 15 minutes of break time for every 4 hours of work). And yes I work in a place where technology is part of the job (it actually is the job) but I understand you can't make a work-productivity case for the Apple Watch for every kind of job. i still can't imagine it being much of a distraction though. I don't know many who can tolerate spending significant amounts of time reading news, gaming or texting on their smartwatch. Yes there are a few who can, and perhaps they will use anything at their disposal to avoid work. It's up to managers and department/company heads to decide whether or not smartwatches are enough of a distraction to be banned from the workplace or from certain jobs. I don't see it happening in many workplaces though, because it's not worth the hit employee morale would take. As managers we have to consider how our policies affect employee morale as well as productivity, because employee morale has a huge impact on productivity... a much bigger impact than minor distractions like a smartwatch. This thread is a case-in-point. Why would I want to discourage one of my staff from wearing a device that could improve her health and fitness? Improved health and fitness are known to have a positive impact on employee morale and productivity. I'm not saying that there aren't some workplaces where a good case can be made for banning smartwatches, but I don't think they should be lumped in with smartphones in most cases.
Sean
Since nobody else at your company wears a smartwatch, and your boss did not know about yours, it sounds like a blanketed policy was issued to cover all personal electronic gadgets without any consideration for how a smartwatch and a smartphone might be different when it comes to the distraction factor.
If your boss won't budge, then ask what would be permissible? A fitness band? Many of those include smartwatch features, so the policy needs to be specific. Is it the size of the display on the watch that is the problem? Or is it features like text, email and phone notifications? The more specifics you request in the interest of complying with the policy, the more likely they are to realize that perhaps the policy is a bit silly (especially when you explain to them that you will lose money by selling your used Apple Watch and then purchasing a compliant device).
I am a manager who has written and rewritten many policies over the years, so I know asking for clarification often works. It makes the person who wrote the policy think about it more, and believe me there are a lot of policies that get written with minimal thought. I know there are places that ban gadgets because they are security risks or health risks (because they can create a dangerous distraction or introduce opportunities for cross-contamination in a kitchen or laboratory). I can also see banning a smartphone in a general workplace environment because of the distraction factor, but smartwatches are kind of the opposite... they are meant to minimize distractions by providing useful or timely information in a glance.
If your boss still won't budge and says no to anything worn on the wrist that connects to a smartphone, just get something like a Fitbit One and keep it in your pocket for fitness monitoring. Wear your Apple Watch when you are away from work, or on days when you wear long sleeves. It kind of stinks that you wouldn't be able to use the AW for fitness, but some people prefer other trackers anyway. Fitbit doesn't sync to Apple Health, but I think some other bands or devices do.
Sean
[doublepost=1456516352][/doublepost]
As a manager who writes policies like these, I think you're really stretching to say a smartwatch is simply a way to circumvent the rules. They are too small to provide a lasting distraction and using one for complex communication is too difficult. If someone is going to use a smartwatch to avoid doing actual work, then they will stop at nothing to avoid actual work. I can understand banning smartphones, which really can be distracting (I often put mine out of site to avoid it)... but if you ban smartwatches for productivity reasons you might as well take away pens and paper because they might doodle the time away instead. When you are worried that doodling on paper or wearing a smartwatch is too distracting, it's time to admit that you have a more significant performance issue with that employee that needs to be addressed. My two-dozen employees all have Internet access on their computers, so they have even better options for distractions. As their manager I know who is productive and who I need to have a talk with.
I use my smartwatch for work-related productivity (my work-related task lists, Skype for Business, Slack, my work calendar, etc.), but even as much as I use my Smartwatch for little things throughout the day, those brief glances and interactions don't add up to much. I spend more time on bathroom breaks or refilling coffee and water (and even those breaks fit within the permitted 15 minutes of break time for every 4 hours of work). And yes I work in a place where technology is part of the job (it actually is the job) but I understand you can't make a work-productivity case for the Apple Watch for every kind of job. i still can't imagine it being much of a distraction though. I don't know many who can tolerate spending significant amounts of time reading news, gaming or texting on their smartwatch. Yes there are a few who can, and perhaps they will use anything at their disposal to avoid work. It's up to managers and department/company heads to decide whether or not smartwatches are enough of a distraction to be banned from the workplace or from certain jobs. I don't see it happening in many workplaces though, because it's not worth the hit employee morale would take. As managers we have to consider how our policies affect employee morale as well as productivity, because employee morale has a huge impact on productivity... a much bigger impact than minor distractions like a smartwatch. This thread is a case-in-point. Why would I want to discourage one of my staff from wearing a device that could improve her health and fitness? Improved health and fitness are known to have a positive impact on employee morale and productivity. I'm not saying that there aren't some workplaces where a good case can be made for banning smartwatches, but I don't think they should be lumped in with smartphones in most cases.
Sean
I work in a grocery store (college student) and I was the first one to wear a smartwatch of any kind. I wore an OG Pebble and then an Apple Watch. The management didn't even know what it was. The manager directly above me saw it one day and asked if I had "one of those smart watch things" and was really excited about it. He actually picked up a Moto 360 a week later per my recommendation. I don't use my watch when I'm out on the floor because it makes it look like I'm not paying attention to customers, nor do I sit and waste time on it when I'm in the back room. The most I'll do is tell Siri to remind me to do something later or send a quick text here and there depending if the texts are important.
I'm trying to present a positive image of the smartwatch to those around me so I don't get them banned for everyone in the future. I use it sparingly at work to prevent it from looking like a huge distraction. I'm just hoping that whatever jobs I get in the future don't ban smartwatches, and I'm very grateful that my current employer hasn't banned them either.
It sucks for the OP though, I'm sorry to hear that. It looks like you have been actively trying to find a way to keep it on at work, but the management doesn't really seem to care all that much. Hopefully your efforts are successful!
I'm trying to present a positive image of the smartwatch to those around me so I don't get them banned for everyone in the future. I use it sparingly at work to prevent it from looking like a huge distraction. I'm just hoping that whatever jobs I get in the future don't ban smartwatches, and I'm very grateful that my current employer hasn't banned them either.
It sucks for the OP though, I'm sorry to hear that. It looks like you have been actively trying to find a way to keep it on at work, but the management doesn't really seem to care all that much. Hopefully your efforts are successful!
I have to side with the employer on the cell phones. Between cruising the Internet and doing social networking, billions of work hours are lost. I can see having a phone for emergency purposes with the family, but there is always someone who will abuse it and rules like this are made for this reason.
My staff dont know how lucky they are. We dont ban phones and have a relaxed dress code & reasonably flexible hours.
I do know employment law is very differerent here in the UK with 'salaried' in the US meaning something different.
I would say to your employer that it has been proven if you stand once every hour in a sedentary job (as I expect your job is), it will make you live longer.
Apple have spent millions researching this tell him.
Surely your boss wont argue against that, unless he is a control freak, I hope not.
I do feel for you, keep us updated.
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Isn't there something in the American Constitution about the Right to Bear Smartwatches?
I would;
1) explain to your boss/employer that you use it for fitness tracking only and can wear it hidden where its even inaccessible by you during working hours to guarantee you aren't abusing any company time.
2) if they don't agree to 1, sell it and get a fitbit.
Honestly, a good job with benefits and a family to think about, don't be too upset.
Think about it this way, if you and your husband were both out of work and you went on a job interview with this company and they said they'd hire you, but they don't allow phones or smartwatches, you wouldn't bat an eye or think twice about it.
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Do you honestly believe employers care about how long you live?
As someone who employees a couple dozen people I can say that I am genuinely concerned with the health of my staff for several reasons:
- Frequently my staff are in stressful situations either from work volume or unhappy/frustrated customers or coworkers. Staying healthy and reasonably fit helps them deal with the stress and be happier on the job. That increases productivity. Banning small distractions like a smartwatch probably won't result in your employees all turning into couch potatoes, but it will have a negative impact on morale... which means a negative impact on productivity.
- I get that in some jobs workers are expendable, but in many places you have to invest many months in training a new employee before they can function independently and do the work really well. Suddenly losing an employee is expensive (in terms of lost productivity) and stressful.
- Health Insurance providers increasingly offer employers financial incentives for wellness programs and for employees who take part in those programs (some even offer discounts to employees who use a pedometer or fitness tracker).
- I could launch into a tirade about employment ethics and how I believe employees should be treated humanely and with dignity, but I know that's not the workplace culture everywhere.
I know sometimes you just have to take what you can get, but whenever possible it's good to work for employers who treat employees with dignity.
Sean
I own a business (manufacturing) and we do not allow personal cell phones inside our factory. They are a distraction and it is a real safety concern. Last Dec. an employee forgot to leave his phone in his car and it rang. He did not answer it but he was terminated. Harsh yes but around the type of machinery in our factory a distraction could be deadly.
If you want the activity tracking maybe you should just get a device that will not be against company policy.
If you want the activity tracking maybe you should just get a device that will not be against company policy.
Or loan it to your husband in the meantime. He could use it to keep track of interviews he goes on and such, get or stay in shape while he's looking.
I feel for you. And yeah, get another job was my first immediate thought but understand your situation. I suppose I could see some people checking personal emails on it but it's not like you'd use it to play games. And whatever you do on it is so momentary and generally quick hard to see it as taking away from work really. At least for me it. It's on my wrist and I check time, get a notification and occasionally take or place calls but for the most part it is just part of my arm these days.
Don't know what your rapport is with your boss who made the rules but did you come out and ask them why exactly? The fact you said they didn't even know you wore one under your sleeve is interesting. My take would be that if you see someone abusing using it on office time you give a warning or two and then adios. Banning in anticipation of people abusing work time seems totally unfair. And given how the majority of nice smart watches are at least a couple hundred bucks or more just seems wrong to do to people unless there's some safety issue or such involved.
Have to say if I was a receptionist there and didn't really get any benefits or love working at the place, at some point I would put feelers out for another job and when I found one I thought I would be happy at would give my notice and probably mention that the policy influenced my decision to leave. I'd say the watch was a somewhat expensive item and not being able to wear it meant you were basically throwing your money away for all you got to wear it. That's just me.
I feel for you. And yeah, get another job was my first immediate thought but understand your situation. I suppose I could see some people checking personal emails on it but it's not like you'd use it to play games. And whatever you do on it is so momentary and generally quick hard to see it as taking away from work really. At least for me it. It's on my wrist and I check time, get a notification and occasionally take or place calls but for the most part it is just part of my arm these days.
Don't know what your rapport is with your boss who made the rules but did you come out and ask them why exactly? The fact you said they didn't even know you wore one under your sleeve is interesting. My take would be that if you see someone abusing using it on office time you give a warning or two and then adios. Banning in anticipation of people abusing work time seems totally unfair. And given how the majority of nice smart watches are at least a couple hundred bucks or more just seems wrong to do to people unless there's some safety issue or such involved.
Have to say if I was a receptionist there and didn't really get any benefits or love working at the place, at some point I would put feelers out for another job and when I found one I thought I would be happy at would give my notice and probably mention that the policy influenced my decision to leave. I'd say the watch was a somewhat expensive item and not being able to wear it meant you were basically throwing your money away for all you got to wear it. That's just me.
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Yes!, I am an employer, you didn't read my post.
Employers have Health & Safety obligations (wellbeing of staff etc) and these requirements are a legal requirement in the UK.
See bullet points below, especially 1 & 5 for OP's argument.
Re: JK1216 is "probably in a sedentary job"
After a ''Risk Assessment'' it was found the apple watch's 'one hour notification' reduced the jobs health risk.
JK1216 employer, if she has an uncaring ambivalent nature, would be well advised (if in UK, but as an example anyway of how thing should be done in the work place) to read the last sentence below, in particular the third to last word.
Legislation
Legal responsibilities of employers
Health and safety law states that organisations must:
- assess risks to employees, customers, partners and any other people who could be affected by their activities;
- arrange for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures;
- have a written health and safety policy if they employ five or more people;
- ensure they have access to competent health and safety advice;
- consult employees about their risks at work and current preventive and protective measures.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/leadership/legislation.htm
OPs employer wouldn't go to prison for disallowing an apple watch!
However OP and her employer should attempt to reach an amicable conclusion to the 'problem'.
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To the original poster, without revealing your employer, what is the general nature of the company you work for? I think it's fairly obvious your employer really has no idea what a smartwatch is and believes them to be a wrist worn phone instead of primarily being a watch with additional features. While I would not like it if I worked for an organization that banned mobile phones, I could at least understand the rationale. Last I checked most employers would also frown at you for reading a book, magazine, or newspaper while supposedly working.
Are other watches allowed to be worn? Years ago when I wore G-Shocks and the like, I would refer to my watch often not only for the current time, but I would use the stopwatch and countdown feature as a productivity/organization tool. I use my watch now in much the same manner along with all the other features we've come to love and rely on. If your boss does insist, I too would inquire why but if that gets nowhere, unless it's a safety concern, I would ask why watches are allowed at all.
Good luck
Are other watches allowed to be worn? Years ago when I wore G-Shocks and the like, I would refer to my watch often not only for the current time, but I would use the stopwatch and countdown feature as a productivity/organization tool. I use my watch now in much the same manner along with all the other features we've come to love and rely on. If your boss does insist, I too would inquire why but if that gets nowhere, unless it's a safety concern, I would ask why watches are allowed at all.
Good luck
i also work at a grocery store that operates under over a dozen well known banners across the us and employs 200,000+ employees and they dont allow smartphones. i havent heard about smartwatches but i assume they are also not allowed
I told them I keep it on do not disturb mode at work so that it is only a watch and an activity tracker. It has never made noises and again they never even knew I had one so obviously it wasn't a distraction. I am bummed because she stated yesterday that we cannot even carry it in our pockets or like I asked in my bra to at least keep it tracking my activity. But thinking about it how would she even know I had it in my bra. I work in a small privately owned business. It is an animal clinic there is no security issues.
I would just keep it in your pocket or if possible just hide it under the sleeve.
Unless your work checks your pockets or you wear short sleeves some days.
I work at a very small veterinary clinic. Other watches and activity trackers are allowed. My guess is her teenage son has one and it is distracting at home so she made a rule at work. I told her I have it on DND mode and do not receive any notifications. And that I use it purely for health purposes. I asked if I could carry it in my pocket or strap it to my bra she said no. She said that if she bent the rules she'd have to do it for everyone and she will not. So looks like I'm screwed. I can either wear it in my pocket or bra and hope she never finds out or get rid of it which I do not want to do as I love my AW. But what purpose does it serve if I can't use it.
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Can they check our pockets? Is that allowed? I wore it in my pocket all day yesterday and felt super paranoid but I don't think they are allowed to search me. Isn't that invasion of privacy? Especially if I find a way to strap it to my bra.
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Control freak for sure.
Yeah, I'd feel paranoid but I don't think they can just walk up and ask to search your pockets. Especially if you are doing nothing to indicate you have an AW in your pocket.
I agree with you about it being kinda useless if you can't wear it at work. As we spend more time at work than at home for most people I would assume. If I couldn't wear it at work I'd basically have only home to wear it at but that's useless as my phone would be with me or I'm at my computer.
Oof.
At a health clinic, whether for people or animals, I've heard of the occasional restriction on watches due to hygiene reasons. Don't want a watch to harbor bacteria and whatnot. They sell watches on fobs which would clip onto your nursing uniform as a substitute.
But regular watches are allowed at your clinic, so it's obviously not a hygiene concern.
It's just because her son can't control himself with his smartwatch? What teenage son can control himself about anything? ;-p
I'd put out feelers for another clinic. If she's this hard nosed about this otherwise minor issue, I'd hate to hear more stories.
At a health clinic, whether for people or animals, I've heard of the occasional restriction on watches due to hygiene reasons. Don't want a watch to harbor bacteria and whatnot. They sell watches on fobs which would clip onto your nursing uniform as a substitute.
But regular watches are allowed at your clinic, so it's obviously not a hygiene concern.
It's just because her son can't control himself with his smartwatch? What teenage son can control himself about anything? ;-p
I'd put out feelers for another clinic. If she's this hard nosed about this otherwise minor issue, I'd hate to hear more stories.
It's funny how in Chicago Med and Code Black they have characters who wear AW's but some hospitals/clinics won't let you in real life. I know they are TV shows but still funny.
i'm a nurse on the ward that I worked on we are not allowed to have our mobile phones however they don't seem to care about my watch. My ward manager has seen it and the department head has seen it. They were both mystified and asked me to explain how it worked which I did. They didn't say that I couldn't wear it. So I take it that I can wear it. Anyhow I've now transferred to ward where we are allowed to have our mobile phones so there are no issues with me wearing my watch.
