Using your personal phone for work? Discover the pros, cons and best practices for managing business communication with or without a separate work phone.
Many people use their personal phones for their work. You might be a business owner using your smartphone to help run your life and your business. Or you might let your staff bring their own device (BYOD) to use at work.
It can be simpler to manage one phone and it’s one less thing to carry around. But using a personal phone for work can also create challenges in work life balance, privacy and security.
Below we break down the pros and cons of using personal phones for business and look at the alternative: a separate phone just for work.
Let’s start with what can be good about using the same phone for work and personal use.
Using one device can make it simpler to set up, manage and keep track of it. You don’t need to manage multiple devices and you’re less likely to lose or forget the device you need.
You don’t need to pay for multiple devices, assuming your personal phone has the features and functionality you need for business use. Or if you choose to upgrade your phone, you can access the extra features for personal use as well as for business.
Many people get used to the user interface of particular device brands or models. Using a single device can make it simpler and easier for you to pick up new mobile apps you might introduce for your business.
When it comes to your team, letting them use their personal phone for work can offer them more flexibility to use a device they prefer.
Now let’s consider what’s not so great about using the same phone for work and personal use. Here are some important things to consider.
If you’re using the same phone and number for your business and personal life the lines may become blurred. It may be difficult to switch off from work which can cause stress for you or your staff.
If you only have one phone and one number, it’s the one everyone will use to contact you even when you’re trying to carve our personal space. Consider if you prefer to keep your personal messages, data and files such as photos separate to your work messages and data.
Further to privacy consideration, personal phones could put sensitive company or customer information at risk if they’re not well protected. This may be easier for you to control if you have dedicated work devices.
Your staff may incur extra costs when using their personal phone to do work for you. Consider the potential impact of extra data fees, international calls or roaming charges and whether this is something you need to make provisions for in how you manage work mobile use.
Storing large work documents on a personal phone can affect the storage available for private use.
If your team use a wide range of different mobiles devices it may be difficult for you to offer them IT support. This may cause tech issues to affect their productivity at work.
Having a separate work phone and personal phone can help you make the boundaries between personal and business data and time clearer. Let’s unpack these benefits below.
It can help you or your team stay more focused and organised when doing business. It can also help you protect sensitive company data.
Having a dedicated work mobile phone makes it easier for you and your team to stick to ‘office hours’ versus personal time. This can help you prioritise personal time and reduce stress caused by blurred lines.
Having a separate work number means that all business communications take place in a dedicated channel. When people contact you via your work phone, you’ll be more focused and ready to make a good impression.
You’ll also be able to feel more comfortable sharing your contact information with customers and your business network.
Personal phones without proper security features could put sensitive company information or customer data at risk. It is important to protect workplace mobile devices.
Separating work and personal communications can help avoid distractions during work hours.
Work-related phone expenses may be tax-deductible. This could be a financial benefit for companies and employees. Be sure to seek professional financial advice to understand what to consider for your specific business circumstances.
Some mobile devices allow you set up different work and personal profiles on the same device. Look for this feature on your next mobile phone if you’re keen to keep work and personal apps and data separate without needing to manage two separate devices.
eSIM technology is a digital SIM that’s built into some mobile phone models. It allows you to have separate work and personal numbers on the same device. Explore how eSIM can help manage work and personal numbers.
With the right approach, managing a business from your mobile phone can help you save time and boost efficiency. Whatever model you choose, here are some tips to set up your approach to your work mobile phone effectively:
Whether you’re using different devices or the same one for work and personal use, create standards around working hours and process for out of hours communication.
It’s important to be clear on when you’re available and when you’re not. Consult with your team so everyone is on the same page. This is especially important if you’re using personal phones for work. Encourage your employees to switch off work-related notifications during personal time. This can also help support your work-life balance.
If you decide to let staff use their personal devices for work, be sure to create a clear BYOD policy.
Things to consider include:
Business mobile plans can offer a range of benefits for your business and your team.
Explore Telstra’s business mobile plans or learn more about how to choose a business mobile phone plan that’s best for your business.
There are many factors to consider when deciding how to approach your work mobile set up. These include the nature of the work, your available budget, your work life balance priorities and your need for security.
If you need support, you can request a call back from an expert at your local Telstra Business Technology Centre who can shape solutions to serve your business objectives.
Add a phone to a business plan and experience great coverage while knowing that our Security Operations Centres are helping to detect cyber threats each day.
Get mobiles that support your business in more places. Our experts can help you find devices and data plans best fit for your needs.
