Part of the routine for outside mortgage sales staff is to drive to open houses, to meet with their clients, to the offices of their referral sources, etc.
Although this routine has been going on longer than anyone cares to remember, the adoption of the cell phone has made it even easier to do all of the above and yet keep a handle on serving a greater percentage of clients.
But the byproduct of increased use and availability of portable communications devices is more people are driving while distracted. This is commonly seen in two forms: talking on the cell phone and texting.
As for talking, many states have mandated the use of hands-free devices for drivers who are making or receiving calls. But studies show there is still a level of concentration loss when using hands-free devices.
But texting is the newest scourge. All too many drivers try to manage looking at their phone and respond to an incoming text, while at the same time control their vehicle; and the results are obvious.
Now, according to a labor law attorney, the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration has declared texting while driving to be a workplace hazard. He suggests business owners be proactive in taking steps to halt texting.
“To satisfy the OSHA rule, employers should implement a clear written policy banning all cellular activities while driving,” says Reginald Belcher, a shareholder and certified specialist in employment and labor law at Turner Padget Graham & Laney PA, Columbia, S.C. “The policy should subject employees who violate the policy to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.”
He recommends alerting employees to this policy by posting it on the company’s intranet, bulletin boards, and in company-provided automobiles, handbooks, and policy manuals.
“Employers should require employees to sign written acknowledgements, declaring that they have read and understand the policy,” says Belcher. “If employers fail to take these proactive steps, they could be liable for injuries that third-parties suffer in accidents with employees who were text messaging or using a cellular device while driving. Or, the employee might have a viable workers’ compensation claim against the employer if the texting was work related.”
Remember, you are doing your clients no good if you fail to "Arrive Alive" at your next destination because you let the cell phone interrupt your concentration.
