Checking Texts in Meetings

[Anonymous]

I think an occasional quick glance is fine. If it's enough that the person can't keep up with the conversation or misses information it's a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s an emergency, wouldn’t they call?

Seems like something that could have been avoided.

That's kind of my knee jerk reaction, but I also recognize that there are things like your kid traveling alone and you being at work and checking texts that are more common because you are able to keep in touch via text.

I still think colleague could have given a heads up and this wouldn't have been an issue.

[Anonymous]

It’s normal to check texts during internal meetings. I don’t think anyone should be scolded for doing so. Texting back is another matter.

It’s much different for a sales pitch or a client meeting; no one should have their phone out. Before I attend such a meeting I tell my wife I’ll be unreachable for 1-2 hours and to call my cell twice if she needs me to check my phone immediately (keeping it on vibrate of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?

Is the colleague on yi5 local team or part of the visiting crew?
Does he make a habit of disrupting collaborative work for personal reasons?

[Anonymous]

I keep my phone in my lap and only respond if necessary—like an emergency text from my husband, kids, or elderly parent. I’ll step out of a meeting if there’s an incoming call from school or a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s an emergency, wouldn’t they call?

Seems like something that could have been avoided.

People under 35 don’t call. For anything.

[Anonymous]

Unless it’s client mtg they need to deal. Kid is traveling and needs to be able to get in touch. Everyone is adult and can handle it

[Anonymous]

It’s normal to check texts during internal meetings. I don’t think anyone should be scolded for doing so.

Disagree. This seems totally inappropriate. If the meeting is so unimportant, then it should be cancelled. If a meeting is being held, then the presumption should be that the topic is important and that all attendees need to be attentive and not distracted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It’s normal to check texts during internal meetings. I don’t think anyone should be scolded for doing so.

Disagree. This seems totally inappropriate. If the meeting is so unimportant, then it should be cancelled. If a meeting is being held, then the presumption should be that the topic is important and that all attendees need to be attentive and not distracted.

Again, it is not distracting to monitor texts in order to receive updates from traveling child or whatever else.

Checking texts != responding to texts.

I agree that responding to texts in a meeting, particularly in an obvious way, is poor form, but it's equally poor form to call out a subordinate in front of others for something this minor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It’s normal to check texts during internal meetings. I don’t think anyone should be scolded for doing so.

Disagree. This seems totally inappropriate. If the meeting is so unimportant, then it should be cancelled. If a meeting is being held, then the presumption should be that the topic is important and that all attendees need to be attentive and not distracted.

Oh how I wish that were true in all workplaces.

[Anonymous]

Checking texts in a meeting is not great.

Calling someone out on it publicly is worse.

So your colleague gets -1 for texting, boss gets -3 for scolding, colleague gets -1 for being testy. There’s a more polite way to stand your ground.

Manager is still worse than colleague.

[Anonymous]

Depends on internal culture of your org and size of the meeting.
We bring laptops and phones to meetings. Everyone is texting and doing other work.
Of course if it’s a small meeting with a higher up, no, but the higher ups are checking their phones.
We have some meetings that are “no electronics” and those you are not supposed to be texting and on your phone. Of course, again, the higher ups do it.

[Anonymous]

We bring laptops and phones to meetings. Everyone is texting and doing other work.

That makes me think that either a) your organization has too many meetings and/or b) many meeting attendees are unnecessary. It would seem that it would be better to fix that problem than to have people trying to do two different things (badly) at the same time in meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s an emergency, wouldn’t they call?

Seems like something that could have been avoided.

People under 35 don’t call. For anything.

Yeah, I can imagine texts from my teens that said things like "Mom, I got into a car accident and I'm standing by the side of the road and don't know what to do." Or "mom my flight got cancelled can you rebook me im at the airport and dont know what to do". or 'mom i lost my wallet can you okay apple pay on my phone becuse i am stuck right now". They would not call for any of those.

I have received texts during meetings that say "mom there is an active shooter in my school and we are in lockdown do you know anything about whats happening". More than once actually!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We bring laptops and phones to meetings. Everyone is texting and doing other work.

That makes me think that either a) your organization has too many meetings and/or b) many meeting attendees are unnecessary. It would seem that it would be better to fix that problem than to have people trying to do two different things (badly) at the same time in meetings.

Sure. But if I just work there and don’t make these kinds of decisions then here we are. Yes, where I work has serious meeting culture problem. If you didn’t do work during your meetings you wouldn’t get anything done.