Is your boss allowed to text you after hours?

Legally, unless you operate in one of the few countries that have already made it illegal, you can text your employees during, before, and after business hours. But before you do, a note of caution: Do it only in an emergency. For managers, try putting yourself in your employee’s shoes for a moment.

Can employer text employees?

Company management must exercise control over employees to ensure that work is not performed off the clock. For example, a supervisor can now text or email an employee 24/7. If the employee is expected to answer, they must be paid for their time in reviewing and responding to the message.

Can you text employer?

You can text an employer if … For example, if the employer texts you first for the purpose of conveying or seeking specific information (e.g., to confirm an interview time or confirm an interview location), then it’s perfectly fine to text back.

Can employers text employees?

First, there is no question that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) can, and often does, apply to messages sent by employers to employees. This is true even if the message is informational in nature and not telemarketing.

Are managers allowed to text employees?

What laws protect employee privacy?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) also requires employers that provide group health plans to honor certain privacy obligations. However, surveillance, drug testing, and lifestyle discrimination by employers are routine.

Should your company have a texting policy at work?

Your company’s policy for text messaging at work will depend entirely on your company’s size, area of expertise, and culture, as well as the overall productivity of your workers. If your company requires employees to drive, for example, then you should absolutely forbid them from using their cellphones while driving.

Should you allow employees to text during an emergency?

In addition to spawning fear in employees about what they are to do in the event of an emergency, you also risk making them feel isolated. Many people rely on the occasional text message from a loved one to give them the mood booster that they require to get through the long work day.

What is the best policy for texting and cellphone use?

The best policy regarding texting and cellphone use for your company will be one that was developed specifically with your business and employees in mind. Before making a sweeping ban on cellphones throughout your company, ask yourself whether cellphone usage really is acting as a drain on productivity.

Should you ban cell phones in the workplace?

If you ban even occasional cellphone use, you also eliminate these much needed pick-me-ups, and you risk killing employee morale and productivity in the process. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all for company policies regarding cellphone use.