Company Cell Phone deducted from pay

[JosephN]

I work for (company name deleted by moderator) and the company requires us to use the Nextel cell phone that they provide for company business.

The use of the phone is to receive test messages, which are you service calls and other company information. So you can call customers and get service information. To contact dispatch to close service calls.

But because they say that we can use them for personal calls that we have to pay a portion of the monthly fee. So each month they deduct from our pay a fee for the phone.

Question: Can they do this - they are requiring us to have the phone fro company business to receive and close service calls.

Thanks you

Joseph Nicol

[400thAnniversary]

id like to see this answered.. because i too know of that companies practices

[Pattymd]

Generally speaking, as long as you have authorized the deduction, which can be included (in Virginia) in the agreement or other document you sign when they give you the phone, it's perfectly legal. It's their phone, after all, and it was provided to you for business reasons.

Now, if you make NO personal calls, and agree NEVER to use it for personal calls, I agree it would be unfair to make the deduction. In that case, I would bring that to the company's attention.