employee cell phones

J

JFife

Member
Guys,

How do you handle emp cell phones?? Do you pay for them?? Are they expected to provide them??


If you do pay for them (I imagine some do), how are you controlling the cost of usage? Do just give them unlimited?


This is becoming a real hassle for me. Personally, I'd prefer to pay/own the cells. One reason is that I don't feel bad telling them they need to answer any time of the day I call, but other reason is that I've found that the more you offer, the harder it is to leave. You simply control too many different aspects of their life. That may sound "controlling", but I actually think the emps appreciate the predicability.

Problem is controlling the expense. One guy has CO. phone, doesn't have texting on it. So his psycho girlfriend (found out once I got bill) sent him HUNDREDS of texts within a couple weeks. Of course, each one costs. Right now, I just have a few guys added onto my family plan (5 total). One month the bill is $250, next month it is $600, etc.

The nice, easy answer would just be to give each unlimited and pay for a data plan, but that ends up at around $150 a month, more than I'd like to spend.

Anyone own the phones and deduct the cost from the emp?? Or half cost??

....And who pays when phone breaks, etc??
 
I have gone both ways. At first I supplied the phone. That worked good because I was able to track when they were calling someone on company time, how long they talked, etc. I had guys, that should not have had any time to talk on a phone spend 3 uninterrupted hours on the phone with their wife, on a regular basis. I also had a guy phone his mother, in Colombia, not Columbia the city, Colombia the country, Bogota to be exact, and talk for a half hour. I had one guy that used to let his daughter take it to school so she could text her friends, since he worked at night. and on and on and on. When I started supplying them, they were not nearly as common as they are now. Now that nearly everyone has one, I just expect them to have their own. If they are opposed to that, I will go buy a prepaid phone, and put my budgeted amount on it, and let them deal with the overages. I actually text quite a bit to my guys, because I can track what I told them.
 
I used to work for a very large pest control company and we were required to have a cell phon ein order to work for them. They did not pay any and they said to guys that complained about it that it is part of investing in your career. Ithink its a great line and thats what I do. On the other hand I did work sales for a long time and either had a phone provided or they paid a set amount to me as reimbursment
 
trey---

I agree, that is a simple solution and I probably wouldn't lose anyone by taking that stand. Thing is, I am a firm believer in making the job "tough to leave." That is how state jobs, etc. build such loyalty from their workers----by having a hand in so many different aspects of their life. Health ins, retirement, life ins, etc. I guess that makes the trick being able to ensure the emp's effectiveness.

While I don't offer the things I just mentioned, something as simple as putting an emp on payroll where taxes, etc. are taken out makes a huge difference vs. paying cash. Guys want to feel stable IMO. If they don't, they aren't the right person for the job.

Anyways, weighing all of this so I can come up with a policy.
 
The prepaid option seems the best option for those with limits. There is however around Atlanta a cell phone company and their plans are unlimited for $49 a month. They don't have the best service for going outside of the metro atlanta area...but they are a real common carrier for this purpose. Metro PCS. You have to buy the phones but the plans are unlimited.

Here's the link in case anyone wants to check and see if they are in your area:

http://www.metropcs.com/
 
Back in the day when i had 6 employees, i had nextel's and we had unlimited push to talk 2 ways, that was a cheap plan with minimum 200 min free.

If they ran over min they paid for it? we were able to communicate with the 2 way and keep the price down?
 
I just had a guy decide to let his phone bill go unpaid and now has no phone. I went out and bought a Net 10 pre-paid at walmart. It was $30 and came with 300 minutes. Another 300 is like $30. There's no contract or start up fee.

Seems to be working fine. We just keep the talk short and to the point. I take the phone at night and charge it, then return it in the morning.
 
We use Boost mobile Its 50 a month and has direct connect unlimited everything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top