Cell Phones in the Office

With increased production from employees and an enhancement in client services a result of this trend, it is the employer who most benefits. While employers recognize these increased benefits, they have only recently begun to also realize the risks associated with cell phone use by their employees. Of particular concern is the increased risk of automobile accidents caused by cell phone usage, many of which lead to serious injury or death. Indeed, according to Harvard University's Center for Risk Analysis, cell phone use while driving accounts for an estimated 1.5 million accidents and 2600 deaths annually. The risk of automobile accidents creates a tension between employee productivity and accessibility on one hand, and safety risks and liability that employers are being required to evaluate on the other.