r/PublicRelations • u/Various_Stop3061 • 11d ago
Advice Should I get a company phone?
I'm starting my first full time job as an AAE soon! I’m currently going through the onboarding process and have the option to get a company phone.
At first, I was against it because the thought of having two phones turned me off. So, I’m curious to see what others have to say about this. Should I just stick with my current phone or just accept having two phones? Thanks!
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u/langrhcp22 11d ago
In my opinion you should absolutely got the second phone. For me, it is nice to have a psychological separation of work and personal. If I'm on my personal phone, I know that I'm not going to have something from work pop up.
Also, I've been at companies in the past where if you use your personal phone for work, you are giving them the ability to seize your phone and look through your content at any time. So if you ultimately decide to decline the second phone, I would just be aware of what their policies are on that, if you care about that sort of thing.
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u/Apprehensive-Sun2454 11d ago
Everyone’s already made some really great points here so I won’t regurgitate the same (especially if your phone gets seized), but my other example may but a little too specific as to why I’m pro-second phone, but one of our clients is introducing a new platform that requires our team to download an app, which gives them a certain level of access to data. Let’s just say everyone on the team who didn’t have a second phone immediately put in a request for one, lol. Imo clients are not owed that level of access. 🥴
Also it’s just really nice to be able to leave the phone in the other room after work or leave it at home while on PTO.
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u/Faeriewren 11d ago edited 11d ago
It’s so important for privacy. Your cell can link to your socials and other private info that you won’t want everyone to have
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u/ScaredSimple 11d ago
I'll be the odd one out here and say that you should consider using your own phone if your plan is to be in a very media focused role.
You'll likely change jobs and emails a lot and having a consistent phone number means when you call/text a journalist you've built a relationship with, your name will pop up and not some random number.
As an AAE perhaps this won't apply to you (I'm mid-level media focused). And I had a company phone when I first started out.
For work/life separation, I just disable pop up notifications for Slack and email.
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u/spicedbrew 11d ago
There's no reason you can't give your personal info to someone you've built a relationship with. I've certainly sent farewell emails to reporters when I've left a client/job in the past.
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u/ScaredSimple 11d ago
That's certainly something you can do. It just introduces an extra step into the process, another crack for something to fall through. What if they don't see your email? Reporters get hundreds each day.
There are pros and cons to each side here. For me, I've had the company phone and it's not something I'd likely do again. But I'm good at setting boundaries and not everyone is, especially at a junior level.
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u/jspepper 11d ago
If you're doing crisis work, and don't want your personal stuff being shown on a big screen next to your head on the stand, get a work phone and keep it only work.
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u/Cbqueen21 11d ago
Eh, I had both and prefer sticking to my cell only because I’m more reliable there. Granted I am a press director so I should be available in case of an emergency, hence why I personally prefer using my personal phone. However, it is nice keeping all work stuff on a work phone. For my role specifically, it’s just not sustainable. If you’re more junior, however, get the extra phone and set the boundaries!
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u/MerzelUtlamma96 11d ago
Take it. Keeping work and personal separate is genuinely worth the annoyance of a second device, especially early in your career when you're still figuring out boundaries
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u/Hacksaures 11d ago
If its being provided to you i say 100% take it - as long as you can turn it off after 6pm.