My first post here. I am an hourly employee at a travel agency. We're open from 9a-8p although I work 9a-530p. Although it's a small company, we do sell to other agents and travellers throughout the U.S. and Canada. My employer has my home phone number, but not my cell phone. I have a prepaid cell phone that I only use for daycare/school to contact me in case of emergency. So far, I have refused to give the cell number, but my employer is getting insistant. He will not pay for my cell phone and it's not required that I have one. Do I have to give him the number? If he pays for the cell time used? This really bothers me as I think it's none of his business!

Thanks so much.

No, you don't, and I can understand why you wouldn't want to, since it would raise your rates. Now, if he agrees to pay for the additional cost, I would agree. Having said that, however, are you "on call" after your regular shift?

i agree.

Tell him that if he wants you to be available by cell, he has to provide that cell phone to you - either physically or by reimbursement.

What kind of a yahoo insists that people provide him the number of their personal cells? Heck, I don't even like to provide my home number. If the company wants me available 24/7, they have to provide the means.

However, it is not illegal for him to request the number. Is this really the hill you want to die on? It might just be simpler to give him the number and if he uses your minutes, seek reimbursement. If he doesn't have a need to contact you now after hours, he probably won't once he has the number either. You might even tell him that you don't keep it on once you pick up the child from daycare.

Is this really the hill you want to die on?
Not really, but it does make me really mad and I have quit over ethical issues in the past.

You might even tell him that you don't keep it on once you pick up the child from daycare.
This is true. I do turn it off when I get home. It's just that when the phone rings while I'm driving on the highway, I answer it immediately because I know it's something urgent. I don't want to have to check caller id and then pull over and call him back (I won't talk to him while I'm driving). It seems like most people use cell phones and they're just a part of everyday life, but I don't particularly care for them.

Thanks everyone!