mobile phone policy

I have a domestic helper (last 1 month) who seems to be chatting endlessly on the mobile phone .other than being bothersome with the noise(irritating ringtone, constant chatter) it also distracts her quite a bit and she has often "forgotten" important instructions etc that I have given her .

Am within my rights to restrict her cellphone usage on the job .What is acceptable ?

Yes you are within your rights, just as personal phone calls are (at least by implication) restricted at an office.


I would suggest, though, that you don't start by bluntly forbidding or curtailing. Have a sit down chat with her and tell her about your concerns. Ask her to cut down on the talking, set the ringtone on vibrate during working hours, and stop chatting entirely during "critical" phases such as walking kids to school bus. Talking on the phone on the job should be ok as long as it is during, say, cooking, washing dishes and cleaning, and as long as it does not make her forgetful or inefficient.


By asking her to cut down instead of imposing rules, you give her a chance to improve by herself. This means she will hopefully feel that you are giving her responsibility. If that still doesn't help you will of course have to set hard limits.

In just about any workplace, chatting away on ones mobile whilst letting ones duties slip would be grounds for written warning and dismissal if repeated. Let her know that you're really happy that she has a social life and likes to chat to her friends but whilst at work, she needs to concentrate on her job.


If she has to make an emergency phonecall, I can't see it lasting longer than a few minutes and it wouldn't happen all the time. If her friends call her when she's at work then let her know she should let it go to voicemail and call them back when she's off duty or if she answers, she should let them know that she's busy and will call them back.


I'm a full time mum and get to know a lot of helpers at the parks around here and I have very little respect for the helpers (or parents for that matter) who chat or web browse away whilst the kids they're looking after are getting bored, injured or just bothersome to other people. I know many who will answer the phone, say they're busy and then be off the phone in under a minute and I really think that's the way it should be.


I've never had a job where I think my boss would think it's acceptable for me to chat away on social calls when on the clock.

I had this problem with my maid. It came to a head when I came home form picking my son up at school, she was on the phone rocking my newborn in his bouncy chair with his foot and she then carried on for 20 mins after I got back. She then came off the phone, texted for a few minutes and then she took another incoming call for 20 minutes. I really like my privacy and quiet and I hate listening to other people yaking on the phone. I told her that she was ALWAYS on the phone and that from now on I wanted it turned off and in her room. She gets loads of breaks, a lunch hour and she finishes work about 6pm. She can chat all she likes then. I haven't had an issue with the phone since.