315.2 Cell Phones
Created
by:
Donald Pierce on 6/9/2009
Category:
3 - Business Affairs; 10 - Accounting/Auditing/Budgeting
Originator:
Chief Information Officer, Controller
Current
File:
315.2
Adoption
Date:
5/29/2009
Reviewed
for Currency:
5/29/2009
Replaces
File:
Date
of Origin:
5/29/2009
Classification:
In
Archive?
No
315.2 Cell Phones
A.
Background
Use of cell phones for University business
has become a common practice. This policy will simplify the University cell
phone program and result in each user's having both freedom of choice and
personal responsibility for his or her cell phone plan. It will also enable
Furman University to better control cell phone costs, as well as comply with IRS
guidelines.
B.
Policy
Employees whose job duties include the
frequent need of a cell phone may receive extra compensation, in the form of a
cell phone allowance (stipend), to cover business-related costs.
C.
Guidelines
1. The University will not own cell phones
for the use of individual employees.
2. If a department head determines that a
university employee’s job duties include the frequent need of a cell phone, then
the employee is eligible for an allowance to cover cell phone expenses.
3. Department heads are responsible for the
annual review of employee business-related cell phone use to determine if
existing cell phone allowances should be continued as-is, changed or
discontinued. Supervisors should contact Financial Services if there are any
changes to the allowance.
4. Furman University will pay the agreed
upon cell phone allowance even if the monthly costs exceed the allowance. If the
amount of the allowance subsidy needs to be altered because of documented
business purposes, individuals will need to ask their department heads to adjust
the cell phone allowance and submit a new approved form.
5. The cell phone contract will be in the
name of the Furman employee who will be solely responsible for all payments to
the service provider. Only one cell phone allowance will be provided per
employee. Employees who require a device with both voice and data service (i.e.,
a smartphone) may combine a voice tier with the data tier for their total
allowance.
6. Furman purchasing cards or departmental
accounts may no longer be used for individual employees’ monthly service cell
phone fees or for related equipment purchases.
7. Furman University will not accept any
liability for claims, charges or disputes between the service provider and the
employee. Recipients of a cell phone allowance must notify Furman University of
the cell phone number and must continue to maintain the cell phone while in
receipt of the allowance.
8. Because the cell phone is owned
personally by the employee and the allowance provided is taxable income, the
employee may use the phone for both business and personal purposes, as needed.
The employee may, at his or her own expense, add extra services or equipment
features, as desired. If there are problems with service, the employee will need
to work directly with the service provider for resolution. Computing and
Information Services will support smartphone/PDA users by providing settings for
email and calendar functionality.
9. Use of the cell phone in any manner
contrary to local, state or federal laws will constitute misuse and will result
in immediate termination of the cell phone allowance.
10.Complete details regarding this benefit,
including current monthly allowances and user requirements, are found on the
Human Resources' website.