Pros & Cons of Using a Personal Cell Phone for Work

Today’s employees are frequently asked to use their own mobile phones for work. 87% of companies expect their employees to use their personal devices for work purposes and that number is expected to increase. Increasingly, not using your own phone for work seems odd. Using your personal cell phone for work purposes can benefit you in some ways, while it may present challenges in others. Let’s look at a few pros and cons of using your personal cell phone for work.

Pros of Using a Personal Cell Phone at Work

Familiarity

Many cell phone users have personal preferences about the brand, model and operating system of the devices they use. When you use your personal phone for work, you have full control over these preferences, and you can continue to use a device that you enjoy and are familiar with. You can get your work done easier when you’re familiar with the device.

Simplicity

Freedom to Upgrade

Cons of Using a Personal Phone for Work

Using a personal phone for work isn't ideal for everyone. Some may face challenges involving the following issues:

You may not be reimbursed for your phone expenses.

Federal law does not require organizations to reimburse employees for business-related calls, texts, internet browsing, etc. that take place on their personal cell phones. Pennsylvania does not require reimbursement for phone expenses although some states do have these laws on the books. If your employer agrees to provide expense reimbursements via an employment policy, the payment must be made within 60 days of the employee’s valid claim submission. Some workers may be able to deduct work-related expenses, including for their cell phone, from their state income tax. How to deduct work expenses from your state taxes

Spam calls and spam texts increase.

Work-Life Balance

Reduced Privacy

Post-Employment Entanglements

Think Before you Say “Yes”

Before you agree to use your personal phone for work, you should ask your employer some questions. Does your employer have a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy? If so, you should read it. Will your employer reimburse you for costs relating to your phone? Some employers pay a flat reimbursement rate per month. Try and negotiate that up front. Ask your employer for communication apps so that you do not have to give your personal number out to customers and others. Be very careful about using your device to access confidential company information.