It always happens when you’re smack-dab in the middle of extreme concentration – a co-worker’s cell phone triggers the loudest, most annoying ring tone ever. Sometimes it’s an Avril Lavigne song. Other times it’s the “Baywatch” theme. Occassionally, it’s the “Macarena.”

If a recent SnagAJob.com poll is any indication, cell phones are very, very popular with the employees fueling America’s hourly jobs. More than 80 percent of 4,800 respondents stated that the cell phone was the gadget they couldn’t live without, with the iPod coming in second with 13 percent of the vote, and TiVo bringing up the rear with 7 percent of the vote.

As more states enact laws banning handset use while driving, and schools also continue prohibiting cell phone usage, there are fewer and fewer acceptable places to make calls. Even workplaces are getting in the game; according to a poll published in USA Today, 30 percent of companies have put some sort of cell phone kibosh into place.

What’s it all mean? A few things. First off, if you’re guilty of chatting on the phone while you’re supposed to be working, or even having your text message alarm go off every five minutes, then you’re ruining it for the rest of us who just want to call home once a day to see if we’re supposed to pick up milk on the way home. Also, it may not be long before cell phone abusers are considered worse co-workers than chronic knuckle crackers, bubble gum blasters, slackers or kiss-ups.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 at 11:57 am and is filed under Tech talk, Workplace manners. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.