Your phone or your employer's?
Feb 27, 2007, 10:00 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MEL/LAX
Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade
Posts: 4,472
Our company is fine with us using our cell phone (or company calling card) to call home when on business trips - or for that matter for them to call us on our cell phones.
Ofcourse Skyping )with video) with me family is much more fun and satisfying
Ofcourse Skyping )with video) with me family is much more fun and satisfying
Feb 27, 2007, 10:15 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
I treat it like per diem meal charges; when you travel, most companies will recognize that you are being inconvenienced and forced to spend money you might not otherwise, so you are allowed a certain daily allowance for meals / hotel. The amount can vary, but the principle is the same -- enough to eat on, but not enough to go to a 5-star restaurant every night. For me, using a cell phone is the same; I'm away on company business, I should be able to use company resources to stay in touch with my family....up to a point.
Feb 27, 2007, 11:17 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC/SYD
Programs: Virtuoso Travel Advisor. FSPP, Ritz STARS, Rosewood Elite, Belmond BelliniClub. SPG PRO
Posts: 2,445
My work blackberry is the only phone I have. No home phone. No other calling methods. But I've been told this is one of the "perks" of the job.
Feb 28, 2007, 9:01 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Holiday Inn Platinum, peon on the rest
Posts: 677
In my last job, they made us pro-rate the amount that would be reimbursed and only paid for business calls.
In my new job, I approve all of my employees phone bills for the entire amount, regardless of whether they are "business' or personal calls. I figure that if they are going to be away from home 150+ days per year, I am not going to nickel and dime them on this kind of picky stuff.
I do have problems though when people try to expense "family share" plans that include their spouses phone!
In my new job, I approve all of my employees phone bills for the entire amount, regardless of whether they are "business' or personal calls. I figure that if they are going to be away from home 150+ days per year, I am not going to nickel and dime them on this kind of picky stuff.
I do have problems though when people try to expense "family share" plans that include their spouses phone!
Feb 28, 2007, 11:40 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, IC RA
Posts: 192
If you are away from home at night and on weekends, I can't imagine how an employer could say you weren't entitled to use a work phone to contact your family & friends or whoever (but maybe not the late-night chatlines)
Feb 28, 2007, 6:34 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
I set the travel and phone policy for my company, and I do not limit the use of company-issued phones (actually SmartPhones). The amount of time spent on personal calls is far less than the amount of time spent on business calls. Further, the amount of off-the-clock time spent on work-related issues is far greater than the amount of work time spent dealing with personal issues. I would only intervene if there as a clear abuse as observed by me or others, and that has never happened.
IMHO FTers should always be included in setting travel, entertainment, and other travel-related policies!^
IMHO FTers should always be included in setting travel, entertainment, and other travel-related policies!^
Mar 1, 2007, 5:42 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K,SPG Plat,
Posts: 1,091
our corporate policy is that a short call to home everyday can be expensed. However, the policy has not been updated in the last 5 years or so, and they're now reimbursing $60/month for a cell phone. That covers almost my entire monthly bill, but they're doing it more with the idea that I'm available via phone for them, so they're willing to pay for it.
Thus, I don't feel bad at all about using my cell phone for personal calls.
Int'l, I'll still use SKYPE.
Thus, I don't feel bad at all about using my cell phone for personal calls.
Int'l, I'll still use SKYPE.
Mar 2, 2007, 5:01 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,478
Same here though; both here and at home, we all seem so busy that a 10 minute call on Saturday is the most we manage at the moment. Given that my customer gives me a nice fat internet connection from my laptop, I use Skype whenever I'm in the office (and sometimes go to the office in the evening if required for a conference call back home where they are 12 hours behind).