Blog Post: CELL PHONE DRIVERS COULD COST YOUR COMPANY

You see it every day on the freeway going to and from work.  You finally get in a clear lane away from the traffic pack when you pass a car or truck going only 55 miles an hour in the fast lane and appearing to be asleep at the wheel and backing up traffic for a mile.  As you pass you notice that they are not drunk or asleep, but talking on their cell phone.

What a nightmare!  But wait.  It could get worse.  Imagine that this very driver works for your company and he/she is driving a company vehicle on company time. Their action (if not done with a hands-free device) may not only be against the law, but could be a financial and public relations nightmare for your company should they cause, or be involved in an accident.  A good Human Resource policy could help prevent this from happening.   It starts with making it clear to all employees who drive their own or company vehicles during work hours that they must obey all traffic laws or face appropriate, internal discipline. There are other very important issues you need to address with your Human Resource manager, HR advisor and/ or attorney:

• Have you made this a stipulation in your employee handbook? 
• Have you discussed what appropriate discipline is for such an infraction? 
• Have you discussed your culpability should this happen with your insurance liability carrier?  What if there are major injuries or even a death?
• Have you addressed the larger, newer issue involving employees using technology and cell phones on your time and what content they are putting out regarding your company?

These are all current challenges facing Human Resource, Safety, Insurance and administrative personnel.  Don’t get caught “behind the cell phone driver” and get ahead of this problem by proactively addressing it right away.