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Should Canadian Employers Ban Cellphone Use at Work?

Jamie Dimon’s recent criticism of “phubbing” in meetings has pushed cellphone‑use policies into the boardroom, echoing a 2023 German study that linked simple phone‑limit requests to higher productivity. The Financial Times notes firms are experimenting with lockers and pouches for privacy and security, while researchers highlight a “soft” intervention—plain signage asking employees to avoid smartphones during work hours. The field experiment showed measurable effort gains without eroding trust, suggesting a middle‑ground approach may be effective. HR leaders must balance focus improvements with employee autonomy to avoid backlash.