Anyone here ever dealt with the stunt where leadership tells people to “just text me on your personal phone” so nothing hits the company servers? A lawyer friend spelled it out: that move doesn’t protect the company, it protects them from you. Once it’s on your device, you’re the one holding the bag. They can step back, say “we never authorized that,” and suddenly it’s your problem.
If it’s such a huge legal risk to the employee, why don’t companies ever mention that part? Or is that the point?
I created a google number. Never gave my personal info except for the BC/DR test.
I don’t have a company phone and am expected to use my personal cell phone on my signature, the address book and given to my team. Basically anyone can call or text me anytime.
@ch you were trading time and had options of comp?
I was simply forced!
Managers always had your number, thanks to the Everbridge Mass Notification System. If not, some managers will ask you directly, for emergencies.
The first few years at Ford, I filled the Everbridge with my office number, and nobody cared. A couple of reorgs later, a manager asked me for my personal number, just for a weekend, in case they need me in an "emergency". Reluctantly, I gave my number. No issues, never received a call.
Then Covid-19 came, we were told to WFH forever, and if we could "release" the office phone numbers for money saving reasons. Most people agreed, including me. When the Everbridge test came near, I was forced to put my personal number, since I didn't have the office phone number anymore.
So I started receiving calls during the weekend. Any issue would cause the teams to escalate, and Everbridge to call me. If I am not busy, I don't mind helping, but getting paid OT was a PITA, and COMP time doesn't work for me (Why would I trade 2 hours with my family on Sunday for 2 hours during office hours when my family is working or at school?). So I escalated to my LL5, and things went quieter.
However, after becoming the single SME for a technology at Ford, and not due to my own actions (Ford laid off my teammates), my manager then requested me, very nicely, if people could call me in an emergency, all OT pay approved. I said yes.
So from time to time, I get a call when people are stuck. I join, fix the issue, get paid. Nothing major, or abusive, so it is manageable and I can live with it. At the same time, I don't feel pressured to "be around" on weekends, just in case if the company needs me. If it happens, and I am not available, is not on me, but on Ford for letting good employees go.
@ce doctors hate this simple trick.
Yeah, it’s a known trick. Push communications onto someone’s personal phone so it looks informal, then let them carry the liability. You sue the individual, and either they pay or their testimony drags the company into it. It’s nasty, but effective.
@bx they will surely put your career (not job) on the line when you get back!
@c1 yeah it’s my fault I got tricked. I assumed working at Ford was a real and respectable profession… my fault
@ae first there's shock, then there's acceptance. Do your job well and you'll be fine. The problem with being "always" on call is it becomes expected. You only have yourself to blame.
I like one senior leaders approach to vacations and time off: unless my or your job is on the line, don’t contact me, and I won’t contact you.
@ac you didn’t get punished for not being a team player? Or lectured about how you have to take one for the team and prove yourself? I thought everyone got that talk the first time you try to exercise boundaries… I remember what happened when I didn’t tote the line
@ac I guess I had what they call beginners unluck
@aa, yeah, just you. For company business, a company device. My personal device was "ignored" after business hours.
@a3 your boss doesn’t task your coworkers with calling you in the middle of the night? Your boss doesn’t give your coworkers your personal phone number to proxy call you in? Just me?
Personal device use? For company business? Are you crazy? No. No way man.