Smart Phone Etiquette	
Smart Phone Etiquette (page 1 of 2)	
Cell phones were invented by Motorola in 1973 with the DynaTAC (30 minutes talk time after 10 hour 
charge).  In the 1990s, cell phone use began to increase with second genera
tion (2G) invention of the IBM 
Simon.  Good coverage was not possible until the third generation (3G) in 2000.   The first iPhone was 
released in 2007.  Can you guess which of the following are most comfort
able with cell phones at the job?
•  Baby Boomers: People born 1946 to 1964 (ages 57 to 75)
•  Generation X: People born 1965 to 1979 (ages 56 to 42) 
•  Generation Y (Millennials):   People born 1980 to 1996 (ages 25 to 41)
•  Generation Z (GenZs or iGens): People born 1997 to 2012 (ages 9 to 24)
•  Generation Alpha or Gen A: People born 2013 to present (ages 0 to 8)
GenZs are known to have the best high-tech skills.  GenZs are said to be
 more 
entrepreneurial (may start their own businesses), more realistic (con
centrate on real rather than dream), 
better prepared, global, and social.  There are two billion GenZs who are and will be creating the high-tech 
future in the work world.
A recent study explained that  age affects the way people feel about smart phone etiquette (rules about the 
correct and respectful use of phones).  The older generation thinks smart phone use is WRONG during 
work meetings   —  to read email and texts (76%); to send texts (79%); to browse web (81%); or to talk on 
phone (90%).  But, only 54% of  GenZs say these behaviors are inappropriate (wrong) in work meetings.
Here is a comment from a Generation X manager, Mr. Green: We did not grow up in the work world with a 
smart phone.  It’s all new.  During a meeting, I see that smart phone users are  distracted (not paying 
attention to meeting), and are  not relating (not listening to each other).  When I talked to a young workers, 
he searched 5 things on his phone during our one-minute conversation!  He was looking more at his phone 
than at me, the manager.  I felt the young worker is disrespectful to me!
The correct use of smart phones is confusing — both to older workers 
(supervisors 
and managers) and to younger workers.  Therefore, employers are writing smart phone 
"policies" — rules for using smart phones at work.  Company smart pho
ne policy must:  
1) Follow all laws  about smart phone use (especially while driving).   2) Be reasonable 
since workers may work long hours and need to call family members.   3) Be safe by 
including phone camera rules that protect privacy and customer informati
on.   4) Be 
enforced so that workers understand punishment for violations.   5) Be read and signed 
by workers so all understand.
Why wait for your job to require rules for smart phone use?  Create your
 own work world phone rules to 
shows others — that you are a worker who can be trusted to act correc
t and respectful.  
Tip #1    Keep your smart phone off, on silent (or at least vibrate) at work.  
Tip #2  Only answer important calls or texts.  Let calls go to voicemail.  
  Turn off any ping or noise when you receive a text or voicemail.

College & Career Publishing.  Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Smart Phone Etiquette (page 2 of 2)	
QUICK CHECK:
1. a) When were cell phones invented?  b) How 
much talk time for how much charge?  c) Who 
invented the 2G cell phone?  d) When did 3G 
happen?   e) When was first iPhone released?
2.  In which generation do the these supervisors 
belong:  a) Age 39.  b) Age 72.  c) Age 58.
3.  To which generation do you belong?
4.  Which generation has the best high tech skills?  
5.  GenZs are said to be what 5 things?
6.  a) What affects the way people feel about smart 
phone etiquette?  b) Define "etiquette."
7.  What 4 smart phone activities does the older 
  generation think is wrong during meetings?
8.  Define:  a) distracted.  b) not relating.
9.  How did Mr. Green feel after his one-minute 
conversation with a young worker?
10.  List 5 things that a smart phone policy must be.
11.  What does it show others when you create your 
own phone rules? 12.   TIPS  —
  a) How should you keep your phone at work?  
b) Where should you let calls go?  
  c) What do you turn off?  
  d) Where do you go to take a call?  
  e) In what 3 places should you not talk about 
personal or business information?  
  f) How long should your texts last?  
  g) Who may you ask to explain the rules to you?  
  h) Do not take your smart phone where?  
  i) List 3 things to do during a meeting.  
  j) What should you prove at a meeting?  
  k) When talking to someone, NEVER do what?
13.  a) What did the Kent University study find?  
  b) Which students have the lower GPA?  
  c) What 5 things do smart phones create a 
  need to do?  d) FOCUS on what 4 things?
14.  Pretend you are an employer.  Write 5 rules 
for your workers to follow when using smart 
phones at work and in meetings. 
Tip #3   
If you need to take a call, find a quiet, private place to do so.  Do not talk about personal or 
business information in public places such as in the lunch room, office, or bathroom stall.  
Tip #4.  Texting is better than talking, but keep your texting to a minimum — 30 seconds maximum.   Use good judgement to decide if short texts are ok at your job.  What are the good workers doing?  
If in doubt, ask your supervisor to explain the rules to you.    
Tip #5   Do not take your phone to a meeting (or turn it OFF and do not look at it).  No reading texts 
under the table.  You will damage your chance for raises and promotions by forgetting this tip.  
During a meeting:  1) listen, 2) look speaker in the eyes, and 3) talk!  
  Prove that you are 100% focused on your job, coworkers, and supervisor . 
Tip #6    Do not look at or update social media pages while at work.
Tip #7  When talking to someone, NEVER look at your phone or send a text.  Give 
that person all your respectful attention.  Listen, look person in the eyes, and talk.
Kent State University professors studied the relationship between smart 
phone use on college campus and grade point average.  The study found 
that  bad phone habits create lazy student behavior and prevents 
learning.  Students with the same age, same sex, and same high school 
GPA were compared.  It was discovered that college students who use  smart phones the 
most have lower GPAs than students who use smart phones less.  Phones create the need 
to surf the internet, check social media, play video games, contact frie
nds, and explore 
new applications — when students are suppose to FOCUS on the teacher'
s lecture, class 
discussion, study, and homework.