US Companies and Summer Camps Restrict Phone Use During Work Hours

Some US companies and summer camps are restricting smartphone use during working hours to reduce distractions and encourage direct communication. New Jersey-based Morey’s Piers, an entertainment company, requires approximately 500 employees, most of them aged 14 to 19, to leave their phones in locked lockers while at work. Company managers said the policy is primarily intended to address workplace safety, including employees’ use of expensive amusement equipment and the safety of visitors. Ronin Segrest, 17, said he initially struggled to be separated from his phone but later found that his concentration and communication with those around him improved. Red Arrow Camp in Wisconsin extended a phone ban to employees and supervisors in 2021. The restriction had previously applied to camp participants before 2021, according to the report. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says half of young people aged 12 to 17 spend at least four hours a day in front of screens.