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Businesses alarmed over cell phone ‘texting’ problems in workplaces
One of the country’s foremost business organizations says it has been receiving numerous reports that the usage of cell phones in the workplace has been adversely affecting production.
Production is being affected by too much cell phone use in the workplace, GMSA said yesterday.
The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is now preparing to conduct a survey to determine which sectors are most affected. The findings will determine where measures are warranted.
According to GMSA in a statement yesterday, the cell phone abuse is not only affecting production and productivity but has resulted in loss of man hours, and threatens the general safety of the workplace.
“Employees reportedly spend long periods of time chatting, texting and playing computer games during the hours when they should be working. Several member companies have informed the association that their internal Human Resources regulations have already addressed the issue stating that cellular phones should not be utilized during specified hours.”
However, GMSA stressed that this directive is often observed in the breach and employers are concerned that the practice could present situations that affect employees’ safety as well as the integrity of equipment and machinery.
“Some company heads reported that they have successfully enforced ‘No Exemption’ policies and have instituted specific compulsory measures for storage of employees’ personal items. The GMSA’s Board of Directors has acknowledged that this practice by many employees, not only in the manufacturing and services sectors, would obviously result in reduced production time.”
GMSA also noted that more importantly, it will affect the quality of end products due especially to inattention on the production line.
“Extrapolated, poor quality of Guyana’s manufactured products will hinder the association’s efforts to source international expertise and financing to effectively upgrade our products and production capacity to international standards, and allow them fair competition on Caribbean and international markets.”
The association is now considering several options to address what has become a problem in the workplace.
“A number of the association’s members have raised the issue seeking a policy solution. In addition, recent discussions have pointed to indiscriminate use of cellular phones and hand-held radio transmission sets by members of the public in banks and hospitals despite posted admonitions and warnings that the signals could affect sensitive equipment.”
The GMSA said it is cognizant of the fact that telephones, cellular phones and other instruments of communication are work tools, especially in marketing-type operations and at certain levels of business.
“However, the call for greater awareness of and adherence to business time restrictions by employees functioning at management and non-management levels is apropos in every factory, service facility and office.”
GMSA’s membership comprises of shippers, construction firms, jewellers, garment makers and loggers.
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