Statement of Purpose
The proliferation of mobile devices has transformed our industry and enhanced the travel experience for billions of passengers worldwide. Mobile devices, including smart phones and tablets, have also become indispensable tools in making our work lives safer and more efficient while also offering an opportunity to enjoy music, media, and phone calls when on breaks.
When used responsibly, this activity does not impact others. The use of these devices in speaker-mode, however, introduces noise levels that impact the comfort of others in shared spaces. This behavior is inconsiderate and inconsistent with the high value the Airport places on passenger comfort and experience. The use of mobile devices by staff in a manner discourteous to others contributes to negative public perception of our Airport and erodes the effectiveness of our noise-limiting policies.
Policy
Building on the Airport’s Quiet Terminals Policy, the Airport continues to identify and eliminate sources of noise disturbance in public areas. The use of mobile devices in speaker mode by staff is an annoyance and has contributed significantly to noise levels in public areas and must be curtailed.
To this end, all employees are required to comply with the following:
- Mobile devices, including smart phones and tablets, may not be used by employees in “‘speaker mode”’ in any public area of the Airport, including but not limited to:
- gate lounges, terminal lobbies, food courts, and seating areas pre- and post-security;
- AirTrain, passenger pick-up and drop-off areas, Rental Car Center, and Grand Hyatt public areas; or
- any public area where passengers congregate.
Devices should display visual media appropriate only for public areas (e.g., no profane or offensive content).
This Executive Directive does not apply to emergency situations or when safety, security, and health considerations would be impacted. Please address any questions regarding this Executive Directive to Human Resources.