# While in the office, where do you keep your smartphone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 16, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634 "2019-04-16T16:52:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/1 "2019-04-16T16:52:20Z")
I’ve always kept it in my purse, under my desk. This is because, even though we have some security in this office, it’s not perfect. If I keep the phone in view on my desk, there’s always a chance it will be stolen. However, if I keep it in my purse, I’m not reminded to keep looking at it for notifications and texts after I return from walking around the office. This is becoming an issue because my boss sometimes texts me about work when she’s at home. So I guess I’ll keep it somewhere on my desktop, contriving to keep it somewhat hidden from general view but visible to me. I just know I’m going to forget it when I go home, though. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/2 "2019-04-16T17:06:11Z")
Theft is a non-issue in my office, there are only 15 of us here. I keep it on my desk next to my laptop and it’s plugged in and charging for a portion of every day. People will really steal your phone off your desk? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/3 "2019-04-16T17:26:36Z")
On my desk. It’s the most convenient second factor for the two-factor authentication for the myriad systems and servers I have to access throughout the day. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/4 "2019-04-16T17:30:29Z")
I work in a very small office and no one here wants, or is going to steal, my phone. I keep it on a stack of letterhead since it’s both conveniently close and also lessens the vibration should anyone call versus it rattling across my desk. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/5 "2019-04-16T17:32:14Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Theft is a non-issue in my office, there are only 15 of us here. I keep it on my desk next to my laptop and it’s plugged in and charging for a portion of every day. > > People will really steal your phone off your desk? We have visitors, workmen, clients, etc. frequently in our office. Before we took greater security precautions, we’d have issues with people coming in from the street dressed like an office worker (tie and jacket), and they’d steal purses and laptops. It’s a lot better now, but I am still uneasy about leaving my phone out. My husband works for a major corporation and security is very tight at his office. His phone is always on his desk in plain sight, and he’s miffed that I miss his texts due to my phone being stashed in my purse. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/6 "2019-04-16T17:52:54Z")
I don’t have a smart phone and my cheapie flip phone doesn’t work in this building anyway, but many of my coworkers keep their phones on their desks, usually with headphones so they can listen to music while working. On the rare occasions when they get personal calls, they leave the office and head into the parking lot. I’ve never heard of any theft issues. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/7 "2019-04-16T18:23:08Z")
I don’t understand the fear of theft. I keep my phone on my desk right next to me. When I get up and leave my desk, I take it with me. Doesn’t everybody do that? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/8 "2019-04-16T18:46:56Z")
When I’m at my desk it’s on a little stand like this: [https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61blRWXhDyL.\_SY550\_.jpg](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61blRWXhDyL._SY550_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/9 "2019-04-16T18:55:02Z")
I always cary mine in the front left pocket of my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/10 "2019-04-16T18:56:55Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > On my desk. It’s the most convenient second factor for the two-factor authentication for the myriad systems and servers I have to access throughout the day. Not “most convenient” for me, it’s actually the only one. A couple of years ago they made us all switch from RSA hard tokens to the phone app. I’ve had a few mornings where I got to work and realized I left my phone at home, and had to drive back home to get it. Otherwise I’m not getting logged in! (Good thing work and home are only about five minutes apart.) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/11 "2019-04-16T19:01:39Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > On my desk. It’s the most convenient second factor for the two-factor authentication for the myriad systems and servers I have to access throughout the day. This. It’s sitting on my desk and charging it. I need to access it too frequently throughout the day for anything else to make sense for me. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/12 "2019-04-16T19:10:11Z")
It’s either on my desk (it also doubles as my work phone, so it’s in use a lot), or in the “dad holster” on my belt. We have pretty good security in our offices (due to the need for data security), and I’m in a private office, so the odds of a rando swiping my phone off my desk when I’m sitting right there are very low. If I leave my desk, my phone comes with me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/13 "2019-04-16T19:10:23Z")
Either on my desk or plugged into the multi-port charging station at the front of the classroom. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/14 "2019-04-16T19:10:38Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Theft is a non-issue in my office, there are only 15 of us here. I keep it on my desk next to my laptop and it’s plugged in and charging for a portion of every day. > > People will really steal your phone off your desk? Pretty much the same for me. Small place, not too many employees, my phone is on my desk (between me and the keyboard right now). I’m up and moving a lot. During those times it’s in my hand or my back pocket. I’m surprised at how often phones are stolen as well. They have to be one of the easiest items to track that most people have. If you walk off with my phone, I can pull it up on a map and figure out exactly where it is, within what, 20 feet or so. One thing I’d like to see done is if your phone is stolen and you never find it, that the carrier would turn it off permanently. That way even if someone manages to do a factory reset before you can track it, it’s still of no use to them. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/15 "2019-04-16T19:41:33Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t understand the fear of theft. I keep my phone on my desk right next to me. When I get up and leave my desk, I take it with me. Doesn’t everybody do that? When I leave my desk, it’s generally to take files and documents (yes, we’re in a stone-age paper office) to one of my bosses, so my hands are full. Most of my slacks, like a lot of women’s slacks, have no pockets, and I don’t have a dad holster or even a mom holster. I’m not techie enough to suddenly know how to track my phone if it’s stolen. I suppose I’d immediately call my husband, who knows how to do this, and have him track it. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/16 "2019-04-16T19:48:35Z")
I get work orders via email, so my phone is always with me. It’s either on my desk or in my pocket when I leave the office. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/17 "2019-04-16T20:18:32Z")
While I’m sitting at my desk, it’s on the desktop in front of me. When I get up (to go to a meeting, the bathroom, lunch, whatever), I put in in my pocket. In meetings, I either set it on the table in front of me, or have it in my hands so I can browse the web, depending on how interesting the meeting is 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/18 "2019-04-16T20:33:07Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > When I leave my desk, it’s generally to take files and documents (yes, we’re in a stone-age paper office) to one of my bosses, so my hands are full. Most of my slacks, like a lot of women’s slacks, have no pockets, and I don’t have a dad holster or even a mom holster. Yeah, I forgot about the “no pockets” thing. They still do that? I mean, no clothing manufacturer has come out with “our pants have POCKETS!” ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/19 "2019-04-16T22:35:51Z")
Pocket. 99 percent of the time. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634/20 "2019-04-17T03:25:00Z")
I can trust everyone in my office. My wife doesn’t want to spend money on replacing the phone and my kids would be missing desserts until they are 35 if they took it, so we are all good. In my previous job, I had pants pockets or could leave in on my desk. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/while-in-the-office-where-do-you-keep-your-smartphone/832634.md?page=2)