Avoiding phone calls from your boss

[Anna_Marie]

I worked in a hotel that was awful for calling you in on your days off. I worked part time, and the schedules were put up two weeks in advance. I have four children so we are always busy and I would plan dr appointments, volunteering at school, etc on my days off. People were constantly calling in cause they knew the manager would get someone to cover for them. In the beginning I would cancel my plans and come in but after 2 years of this and them calling NEARLY EVERY DAY I had a day off, I quit answering the phone. It was just too much.

 

[disneychrista]

Let's say that you are an assistant manager and it is your day off. One of your colleagues has a family emergency and can not come to work. Your boss calls and leaves you a message, then a text message, and then another voice message asking for your help. Is it acceptable to ignore these calls and texts?

Only if you don't like/need/want your job.

 

[krnlmustrd]

Maybe she's fed up with the place and already planning to leave - perhaps even interviewing at the moment of the call...

I think employees who really feel like a valued, respected and appreciated member of the team generally are more motivated to go the extra mile and pitch in when needed. Does the OP foster this sort of relationship with her employees?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Maybe she's fed up with the place and already planning to leave - perhaps even interviewing at the moment of the call...

I think employees who really feel like a valued, respected and appreciated member of the team generally are more motivated to go the extra mile and pitch in when needed. Does the OP foster this sort of relationship with her employees?

Or maybe she's "taken one for the team" one too many times.

 

[disneyquestions]

My boss calls me at night and even on the weekends to ask me work related stuff. I always answer. This, and the fact that I'm the first one in, last one out, is the reason I'm not in charge of the office, while the 2 other people have been here much longer than me. If you can't handle the responcibility, then you shouldn't take the higher-up job.

 

[sam_gordon]

No one has pointed out these phone calls (and responses) CAN be a good thing... job security! If you're the only person who knows how to do 'x', and the boss needs to do that on your day off, they're going to call you. Ignore the call and they learn how to do it on their own. Good, right? Maybe not. If they (or someone else) learn how to do it on their own, why do they need you?

Just something to think about.

 

[Billary41]

Yes, it's acceptable. It's your day off.

I don't think so. What it is doing is showing you're a person that can't be counted on, not even to return a call/message you clearly received.

 

[Minnie]

Deleted - OP gave further info.

 

[DaisyLynn]

Maybe she's fed up with the place and already planning to leave - perhaps even interviewing at the moment of the call...

This would be fine. I would not want someone at work who does not want to be there. It does nothing for morale and does not benefit our customers.

I think employees who really feel like a valued, respected and appreciated member of the team generally are more motivated to go the extra mile and pitch in when needed. Does the OP foster this sort of relationship with her employees?

OP here... We have a great team, for the most part everyone works well with each other (all women, we do our best ). A job well done, a big $ sale, going the extra mile, etc. does not go unnoticed, for sure. Unfortunately, I think that a "thank you for your hard work" is not enough for everyone. Retail is hard work, hardest line of work I've ever been in. I believe that you can enjoy your coworkers and employers as much as possible, but the long hours, day-to-day selling and customer service part of the job is what wears you down.

 

[CajunDixie]

Just looking for opinions here, to make sure I'm not crazy.

Let's say that you are an assistant manager and it is your day off. One of your colleagues has a family emergency and can not come to work. Your boss calls and leaves you a message, then a text message, and then another voice message asking for your help. Is it acceptable to ignore these calls and texts?

So are you saying that it is acceptable to not respond?

Do you pay the assistant manager to be on call? Do you pay for their cellphone and insist they carry it 24/7? IF you don't pay them to be on call and you don't pay for them to carry a work phone it's none of you business if they answer your calls and messages. If you want them to be on call for emergencies then pay them to be on call.

I don't think so. What it is doing is showing you're a person that can't be counted on, not even to return a call/message you clearly received.

How do you know they received the message? It's their day off and if they aren't paid to be on call they don't have to carry the phone with them.

Somedays I wish we could go back in time and not have cell phones!!!! I hate that people think everyone should drop everything and answer a phone call or answer a text within seconds. Then if you don't answer your phone they ask you later...well where were you? What were you doing? Why did you ignore me? Wahhhhh!! Get over it people. Somedays I'd love to say I was in the bathroom taking a *hit and couldn't reach my phone.

You're the boss so get over it. If a person doesn't respond maybe you should be smart enough to accept it and go on to plan B.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Their day off, why should they answer their phone. Unless they are on call. Sorry, I wouldn't do it. In fact, if I am with DH I rarely even have my phone.

I don't get why you think it is ok to fire someone for not working on their day off, unless they are notified that they have to be on call. That is crazy.

What I do on my day off is of no concern to my employer, unless the specify that I have to be on call. My work ethic has nothing to do with taking calls on my day off, that makes me a sucker that a company will use up and throw away when they are done.

This.

I may be in the minority, but I say it is OK. I work to live. I don't live to work. When I am at work they get my best effort, and when I am not scheduled to work, I don't work. PERIOD. ( Unless I want to )

BTW, regarding the thread title, my boss is my boss when I am at work. When I am at home, he is nothing to me.

ETA... now that the OP has said that managers know they are on call, then I think they should pick up. That's different. But to expect someone who has not agreed to that at their workplace, I stand by what I said.

BTW, to lighten this up, I never got a chance to use this line, as I never picked up the phone, but once I heard it, I wanted to.... My buddy used it all the time.

" I would love to come in and help you, but unfortunately I am incredibly drunk right now."

And this.

I would love if America worked this way. From speaking with Euro friends and family, it does seem that letting work run your life is a distinctly American thing-- which is sad.
I don't think the assistant manager should have felt obligated to come in, but maybe she could have sent a quick text responding to the boss. I do HATE when people don't get back in touch with me in a reasonable amount of time.

I live in America. And I agree completely with BCB. My job is my job. It's not my lifestyle and it never will be.

 

[DaisyLynn]

Somedays I'd love to say I was in the bathroom taking a *hit and couldn't reach my phone.

If you'd love to say it, then you should!

 

[Freyja]

Just looking for opinions here, to make sure I'm not crazy.

Let's say that you are an assistant manager and it is your day off. One of your colleagues has a family emergency and can not come to work. Your boss calls and leaves you a message, then a text message, and then another voice message asking for your help. Is it acceptable to ignore these calls and texts?

In my opinion, no! I would never ignore messages from anyone (other than maybe sales peoples/complete strangers). I would not want to manage such employees either.