Some companies are implementing policies requiring employees to store their mobile phones in lockable pouches during work hours, aiming to minimize distractions and safeguard sensitive information. ID.me, a digital identity verification firm, has had such a policy in place for over three years for its roughly 290 support staff. The firm uses small sealed pouches that staff tap against a magnetic station to lock and unlock, allowing phones to be kept nearby while preventing unauthorized access during work periods.

Kamilah Muiruri, an ID.me employee, described the adjustment as initially difficult, noting that having one’s phone nearby has long been a familiar habit. However, she credits the policy with enhancing her focus and reducing unnecessary breaks to check her device. Muiruri also highlighted improved social connections within the office, underscoring how the policy fostered greater team cohesion. Employees are still allowed access to their phones during designated breaks.

The use of phone pouches is gaining traction beyond private enterprises, entering educational and cultural sectors where bans on smartphone use are increasingly discussed or mandated. Companies cite multiple motivations for adopting such measures, including preventing accidental or intentional leaks of confidential data and boosting employee concentration and discipline.

Yondr, a firm that manufactures signal-blocking pouch systems, reports clients across a wide array of fields such as courts, childcare centers, government agencies, mining operations, political organizations, and businesses protecting intellectual property. According to Yondr’s founder, Graham Dugoni, organizations often turn to physical pouch solutions only after other phone-use policies failed to create truly phone-free environments.

Research has linked excessive phone use during work hours to diminished employee engagement, a concern echoed by JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who criticized employees for frequent distractions during meetings. Companies also use pouches to create confidential settings; for example, Phone Locker’s marketing manager Amy Brazewell noted interest in pouches for off-the-record discussions under Chatham House rules.

The Royal Court Theatre has introduced phone pouches to aid members of its Writers’ Card program, designed to support playwrights’ creative work. Will Young, the theatre’s executive director, said the initiative has been met with mixed amusement and embarrassment but serves as a tangible commitment to focused work.

Academic perspectives on phone bans’ impact on productivity remain mixed. Adrian Chadi, an economics associate professor at the University of Southampton, emphasizes that while bans can improve focus during routine tasks, the effect on more complex or creative work is less clear, and employees may resist if phones provide important work-related benefits. Similarly, Eoin Whelan, a professor at the University of Galway, found that lifting a previously imposed phone ban did not harm productivity and helped employees manage personal responsibilities better, reflecting contemporary expectations around work-life boundaries.

Internally, ID.me experienced initial resistance and occasional pouch violations when introducing the policy but reports significant compliance and acceptance in recent years. Senior vice-president Kyle Scofield stresses the importance of transparent communication and consistency when implementing such measures.

For those considering reducing workplace phone use, Muiruri advises maintaining an open mindset and recognizing potential benefits. “I would not go into it thinking you are missing out,” she said, reflecting a commonly expressed sentiment among employees adapting to phone-restrictive environments.