What do I do with an employee who is constantly receiving calls on his cell phone during work?

The policy regarding personal calls during work, including the use of cell phones, should be firmly stated in your employee manual (Betty is assuming that you have one!).

I stand firm by the adage "What you do on your time is your business, but what you do on my time is my business." And, I am certainly not paying my staff to yap on the phone.

There is a time and a place for everything, and work is not the time for personal calls. They are inappropriate for several reasons. First, most cell phone rings are loud, annoying and an interruption to the business flow of the store. Far too often I have been right in the middle of helping someone select a Bible when, two rows over, the chilling ring of the "Darth Vader" theme rises from our frontliner Eugene, who has selected this ominous alert for calls from his father.

Bookstore employees should set an example of professional behavior. Anything less is unacceptable. And a word to the wise: Professional behavior begins at the top-so managers, take heed.

Got a question for Betty Bookstore? Write to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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