Prohibition on phones at work does not increase productivity

Prohibition on phones at work does not increase productivity. Scientists conducted a long-term observation in the European branch of a global pharmaceutical company. At the beginning, employees were completely banned from using phones for personal purposes. The rule was introduced in the 1990s out of concerns that employees would be distracted while working with hazardous chemicals. However, over the years, they expressed their dissatisfaction with this policy. After allowing some employees to use phones, their work productivity did not decrease. At the same time, their stress decreased due to the opportunity to stay connected with their loved ones.