Not sure about this one...figured it doesn't hurt to ask.

I work on the road and my job has provided techs with Nextel phones/walkie talkies in order for us to contact the managers in case of emergencies or if there is a problem when we are at a customer's home/business.

Too often, no one is ever available, especially recently with the nicer weather. Someone told me that this is employer negligence, that I should report them to Dept of Labor. I was also told that the managers are supposed to check up on their workers periodically.

I don't want to go to Dept of Labor and make a fool out of myself. Is this something that I can report?

Also, my manager was saying that if can not reach them on the Nextel, that we can try calling the office number - that means that we would have to call from a customer's home or using our own personal cell phones. Is the company obligated to pay any charges for calls to them on my personal cell phone?

Not sure about this one...figured it doesn't hurt to ask.

I work on the road and my job has provided techs with Nextel phones/walkie talkies in order for us to contact the managers in case of emergencies or if there is a problem when we are at a customer's home/business.

Too often, no one is ever available, especially recently with the nicer weather. Someone told me that this is employer negligence, that I should report them to Dept of Labor. I was also told that the managers are supposed to check up on their workers periodically.

I don't want to go to Dept of Labor and make a fool out of myself. Is this something that I can report?

Also, my manager was saying that if can not reach them on the Nextel, that we can try calling the office number - that means that we would have to call from a customer's home or using our own personal cell phones. Is the company obligated to pay any charges for calls to them on my personal cell phone?
I'm not sure what negligence this would be. Most cell phone plans have an included # of minutes. Otherwise, a pay phone is available, but most consumers don't mind if you use their telephone.

The DOL isn't going to care that you can't reach someone on a walkie talkie. That is an internal company matter only. If the Nextels aren't working, have you mentioned this to your employer? Whether that be your supervisor or a dispactcher or whomever, the problem may not be that no one is manning the phones, or it may be that certain people aren't keeping their phones on as they should.

If you have a Nextel, why could you not use that to call the office phone? Regardless, there is no legal requirement to reimburse you for the calls but there may be a company policy to do so.

And there's no law saying managers need to check up on employees. If we had to do that, the managers would never get their own work done. I'm assuming your fellow employees are adults, and would not need constant checking upon.

Talk with your supervisor/boss/whomever handles complaints and ask that you want to try and resolve an issue.

I'm sorry I asked...

I was asking considering isn't it the employers'/managers' job to make sure that the employees are OK out on the field? If there is a problem with a customer or job, employees can contact their employer? To make sure that they are not in an accident? Aren't the employers' liable for their employees during work hours?

I'm sorry I asked...

I was asking considering isn't it the employers'/managers' job to make sure that the employees are OK out on the field? If there is a problem with a customer or job, employees can contact their employer? To make sure that they are not in an accident? Aren't the employers' liable for their employees during work hours?

Well, yes, but, just like if you were working at an office, they can't keep an eye on you every second. And, they don't control the cell towers, and it is not their faut that Nextel's towers are overcrowded. They are only liable for certain actions by their employees.

There is no legal obligation to check on you or be available by phone or troubleshoot problems. If you are in an accident while working then it would fall under WC.

There are "field employees" who work largely independently and their supervisors are simply figureheads and others who are very hands on. There is no standard and no one approach is always right or wrong. If you aren't getting the support you feel you need to do your job, then you need to bring that up to your supervisor. It may be that you need additional training and to learn to work more independently or it may be that if your supervisor knows you need the additional help, you'll get it. You won't know until you ask.