by KYW's Amy Feldman

A Polish bus driver was fired for sending out more than 38,000 text messages on his company-issued phone. He was trying to win a contest jackpot in order to buy himself a new car.  Not only did the poor fellow lose the contest (and the car) but also his job and, consequently, his ride on the bus.  While many companies have policies on personal phone calls, their policies have not caught up with technology and so most provide no guidance on text messages at the office.

Most companies consider that they are able to limit internet usage on company computers but many are either unsure whether they can regulate text messages on an employee’s own cell phone or simply a little too unhip to realize what a great time waster they can be.  Companies are within their rights to limit texting during work hours, even on the employee’s own mobile phone.  Such a policy should say that cell phone usage will not be allowed for personal calls or texts in the building during working hours. You may make personal calls or text on your cell phone outside the office during your lunch hour.  As an employee, remember that it’s a lot easier to buy a car with the job you keep than risk losing your job to win one.