PTers, can you please advise me?

I'm putting this in the Dog House because of the language.

Dear ones, I have a question about work. I have a co-worker who is technically in a consultant role and uses her personal cell phone for work- related calls. Her ring tone is the song "Who Are You" by the Who, specifically the line with "Who the f____ are you?" I was shocked when I first heard it and realized what it was. A few other people have heard it and no one has said a word. I like her a lot, I like working with her and I don't want to get her in trouble, but I don't think this is an appropriate ring tone for the work place. What do I do?

Thank you in advance,
elyse

I'd just mention it to her casually, and ask if she knows how to change her ringtone. Explain she might not have noticed that word, but it's a tad jarring for the workplace!

We have a policy here that no cell phones can be turned on during work hours, which is a policy I happen to like a great deal. Is there any policy in place regarding having them ring? In our case, if there is an issue, it goes to the HR dep't for them to handle.

I also agree that it's inappropriate. She might think it's "cute", but it doesn't belong in the workplace! When I still worked, cell phones were not supposed to be turned on either, but a lot of people would put theirs on vibrate to get around that issue. I don't really see that as a problem, as long as you aren't answering calls or texting on company time. Do your answering during break or lunch.

:) I would just start a conversation about cell phone ring tones && then mention of oh by the way == then note what you think of her ring song.. Good Luck..

Depending how large the office / company is, a word to HR should suffice.

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Originally Posted by Pinot's Mom

We have a policy here that no cell phones can be turned on during work hours, which is a policy I happen to like a great deal. Is there any policy in place regarding having them ring? In our case, if there is an issue, it goes to the HR dep't for them to handle.

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There are 10 people who carry work-related cell phones. only one is kind enough to set it on vibrate when she is in the dept. The HR policy doesn't apply because she's not an employee, she's a consultant. Non work-related cell phones are not permitted at all. She is using her personal phone for work calls though.

That is one word I CAN"T stand and I would have already said something to her about it. Everybody I work with knows I find that word terribly offensive and not to use in in front of me or I WILL speak up!

Company policy is very strict about bad language in the work place too!

Let me tell you a little story.

Years ago, I was actively looking for a job. I had an interview with the Rabbi of a synagogue. Not thinking, I decided to change my voicemail message. Bad move...

"*splash, splash, rubber duck squeaking in the background*)

"Hi, sorry I can't come to the phone, but I'm in the jacuzzi my masseuse Sven. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back when we're out and dry."

Well, that job opportunity went down the toilet. The Rabbi left a message, "I guess you don't need the job THAT bad." He hung up.

Moral of the story...do NOT record any kind of vulgar, sexually explicit on your answering machine. You never know who you're calling.

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Originally Posted by cassiesmom

There are 10 people who carry work-related cell phones. only one is kind enough to set it on vibrate when she is in the dept. The HR policy doesn't apply because she's not an employee, she's a consultant. Non work-related cell phones are not permitted at all. She is using her personal phone for work calls though.

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But the HR policy probably DOES apply.

Any contractors or consultants in a workplace are normally bound by the same rules of behavior as the rest of the employees.

She's on their dime, she needs to play by their rules. Besides, it's the whole professionalism issue.

"You know (insert name here), you must be a really good consultant. After all, we have an HR policy covering phone usage in this office, and your constantly flouting it. "

I wouldn't recommend taking my course with contractors on site breaking safety rules, but that's a different issue.

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"

I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin' punches around
And preachin' from my chair

chorus:
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin

I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the Tin Pan
God, there's got to be another way

Who are you?
Ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ...

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

(chorus)

I know there's a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees

I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still recieve your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?

(chorus)

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I had never heard the 'eff' word in that song before......


But it is posted on ANOTHER lyrics site!

I too was gonna say I´ve never heard THAT word in the lyrics.. being it´s the theme song of CSI Vegas.. hmm.. perhaps it´s another version..

while some ringtones are funny.. there are places were they are really not appropiate...

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Originally Posted by Husky_mom

I too was gonna say I´ve never heard THAT word in the lyrics.. being it´s the theme song of CSI Vegas.. hmm.. perhaps it´s another version..

while some ringtones are funny.. there are places were they are really not appropiate...

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Y'all, that "word" IS most definitely in the original lyrics - once. It's been silenced on mainstream radio FOREVER, but it's there. It doesn't belong in the office, and I wish there were people who would eliminate it from their daily usage, because I hate it as well. I still say put it in the hands of HR, or whoever hired the consultant. They need to stand by the rules of your workplace (as well as common courtesy).

Maybe send her an e-mail if you are not sure how to approach her. At my workplace we have 12 employees and they all have company cell phones except the data girl and I. I have my own cell phone which I can have on, I try not to but sometimes I need a phone call to come through there instead of on the main line incase I'm answering it.

Good luck, I agree that, the ringtone should be changed.

Most companies do not allow use of personal cell phones. If you know your co-worker well enough to have a converstion with her about it you could approach the matter with her while chatting. If not then you could send her an e-mail asking if she could put her phone on vibrate or change her ringtone as you and others find that work offensive and unprofessional in the workplace.

I don't know where some of you work. I use my cell phone all the time to both recieve and place calls to other attorneys, the court, my friends, my co-workers, etc. My sister works in a bank, and we call each other, no issue. Frankly, there is such a blend in many people's lives between work time and non work time that if anyone ever said 'don't use your cell phone during business hours', I would laugh. I use my cell phone during business hours, to make and receive business calls. I use my desk phone to make and receive personal calls. It is a phone, a way to get in touch with me. I can easily program people's numbers into my cell phone, I can't do that with work.

Just last week, I used my cell phone, while sitting at my desk, to call another attorney on HIS cell phone, while he was sitting at his desk. Course, during the call, both of us had our office phone ring. LOL.

BUT, having said that, I don't have an offensive message on my VM, and do have certain ring tones programmed for certain people. None of them contain any vulgarity.

I would just say to her, "Did you know that every time your phone rings I hear the "F" word? Probably not very office appropriate."

That is kind of the beginning and end of it, IMO. You aren't her boss, she isn't an employee, and could you possibly sever a relationship that the company might not love you for?

We can use our cell phones at work, but with discretion. We're big boys and girls, after all!:p Seriously, though, part of the "discretion" includes tasteful ring tones or, better, phone on silent mode.

I have the BEST ring tone on my phone.

"Hi, this is John. I'm with my wife right now.
So if you leave your name and number,
I'll get back to you as soon as I'm finished." :p

I hope you get this resolved, Elyse. I'm sorry this person doesn't have the decency to make sure this is never heard in public.:(

I know the F word is used by so many people these days but not everyone wants to listen to it.

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Originally Posted by wombat2u2004

I have the BEST ring tone on my phone.

"Hi, this is John. I'm with my wife right now.
So if you leave your name and number,
I'll get back to you as soon as I'm finished." :p

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Is that on your work phone, Wom?

That is definitely unprofessional and shows no respect for those forced to listen. If your office has staff meetings, like many do, maybe you could ask that it be brought up anonymously, maybe the supervisor or head of your department could make a general statement like "There have been complaints about....." Nobody should have to listen to trash like that! I do hope something will be done about it!

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Originally Posted by phesina

Is that on your work phone, Wom?

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Naw. It was on my home phone for a day.
My wife found out about it, and I was in trouble for the next week...:D:D

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My wife found out about it, and I was in trouble for the next week...

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Well, you had to change it then...likely you weren't "with" for quite some time. :p:D

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Originally Posted by Catty1

Well, you had to change it then...likely you weren't "with" for quite some time. :p:D

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True !!! The atmosphere was so DRY (so to speak) for a while, I thought I was in the Sahara Desert. :p

Thank you, everyone!

Here's what I'm going to do. She's back in the office tomorrow. Last Monday the Who was her new ring tone, so I'd like to wait and see if she has a new one tomorrow or not. If it's still the Who, I'm going to mention it casually to our manager.

Update. She was out of the office (working from home) for two weeks, just returned yesterday, and the Who is gone. I heard her tell the department director that sometime during the two weeks she realized what it said and was surprised that no one had pointed it out to her. It was installed on her phone as a prank. There is a little computer-generated melody on her phone now. I never did say anything. I'm just glad it's gone.

Hmm, I would tell her it's innapropriate,

Oh it's gone. Good.