The cell phone: verboten in the work area

Premiere is ovah. And none too soon. I worked from 8AM until 2AM (the verrrry end of the Premiere Party) and, today, my legs are like lead. So many hours on his feet make Jeffrey a tired l'il fella. Things went well overall, with everyone seeming to enjoy themselves and me feeling like my suite has never looked better. I was definitely proud of all my work.

The bummer, of course, was having to work the Premiere Party again. Unlike last Premiere in San Diego, I knew what I was in for and put a smile on my face while making sure that everything clicked along. And it's always interesting being one of the only sober people in a room full of drinkers, so there was some merit there.

Our caterer is great, and I didn't have to worry about that aspect of our service at all. I was able to concentrate on my own team of staff, making sure they knew what to expect next and what we all needed to do to get things ready for all of our party-going guests. They were good, so I'm encouraged by what I saw them do -- with one notable exception.

We have a rule for our temp staff that none of them are allowed to bring a cell phone into the work area. I fully support this policy, and made it absolutely clear to my team members during our training day session that cell phones are verboten. They are allowed to bring them on-site and leave them in their lockers, but are not allowed to have them on their person when in the work area. And not only did I mention this to them, but they have all been made fully aware of this fact by the agency that hired them. So why, then, did one of my team show up in the suite with her cell phone?

I saw it and immediately made it clear that it was not allowed, reminding her that we went over that policy in our training session the day prior. Her response? "But I have a 6-year-old, and I have to keep it on me at all times."

Nope. Sorry. Wrong. Uh uh. Did I not make it absolutely clear that this is not allowed? Did the hiring agency not make it absolutely clear that this is not allowed? Did you not think that maybe you should have identified at some point that this would be an issue for you? Like when I went over the guidelines with the team and then followed up with a very specific question asking them if any of our guidelines would present a problem for them? Do ya think? Maybe?

If you need to have your cell phone on your body at all times, you are unable to fulfill the requirements of this job. It ain't exactly rocket science, baby! For the record, last night I let her leave her cell phone -- turned off, of course -- in her cubby hole at the back of the suite. But if I ever see her bring it into the work area again, she'll be escorted to Gate 1 and asked to give back her staff ID.

That kind of blatant disrespect really irks me. And I'm not gonna take it anymore.

Another show today, two tomorrow, and two on Sunday. And then it will be the milestone known as First Sunday! Can't hardly wait!