Ignoring work texts

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I don't see the big deal about replying to work texts. It easy enough to do.

It is easy enough to do but work can't have it both ways. If I can't answer my family's text messages while on their time, I am not answering their text messages while on family time. Fortunately my employer understands this and doesnt wait to the last minute to contact me.

 

[brooke789]

Something I was thinking about relevant to the conversation... With the FLSA changes last year my work took a very conservative approach and decided that it was 'against the law' to check email outside of your work (clocked in hours) for those non-exempt (i.e. employees who can earn overtime/comp time). Going along with that policy if you take a phone call outside of your work hours your supervisor is required to add a minimum of 15 minutes to your time. Same goes for texts. As a non-exempt employee myself I really like it! I rarely ever get any work phone calls or texts. I've never checked email at home even before the 'official policy'. The only texts I do receive or more along the lines of someone is going to be out sick, etc and it doesn't require so much as a response.

I really am surprised that anyone is expected to be attached to their phone 24 hours a day though. As far as personal texts go I regularly go hours to nearly a full day before seeing them... If someone texts me between 2:30pm (when I pick the kids up from school) and 6:19 am (when my alarm goes off to walk out the door for work) I usually don't see that until after turning off that alarm the next morning. I'm just not attached to the phone. If I hear it and I'm not busy I'll check but it's not generally even in the same room as me.

 

[because]

And that is one of the biggest problems with corporate culture in the US. Who knows what this person was doing. He could be spending the day with his kids or picking his toenails, it really doesn't matter because it was his time to use as he pleases. To hold taking time off against people is just asinine.
DH and I sometimes deliberately leave our phones home when we are with our kids. They are our personal phones. We pay for them. We are off. That is our time. If its a true emergency, I will respond when I get back. If not I will wait until I am in the office.

Thankfully the culture is just starting to change. I live in a very techie area. More and more companies are now actually requiring their employees to unplug when they leave work. I know of several in our area that offer substantial monetary incentives to employees who do not log in and do not respond to emails or texts. We were just given a report to read on research that companies that are requiring their employees to unplug have seen rises in productivity and the bottom line. The theory that working employees to the bone is not good for the company is in its infancy, but it is starting to spread.

Now, I realize this is not retail, but the same theory should apply. The OP says it was not an emergency so the store could not have been that swamped. If it was the boss would have tried other methods to reach the employee like calling him. I have to agree with the majority here that the employee was under no obligation to respond to the work texts. If an employee does not respond within a reasonable time, the boss should automatically assume the employee is not available and move to the next person on the list.

I usually do respond to a work text because my boss would never abuse calling me, so if he texts or calls I know it is an emergency. But the OP says the guy always has an excuse so it seems that he gets called to come in a lot. In that case he may have a very good reason to not respond.

 

[KimBean]

This exactly. But he is nototrious for "not getting" his texts. He blames the phone all the time. We could have used the extra person. But he just blew it off

Well whether he ignored your text or he didn't get it you weren't getting the extra person with him either way. Does it lack courtesy? Yes. Should he be required to come in when he isn't scheduled and not on call? No. Unless he is a part owner in the business or owns stock and is invested in the outcome of the bottom line you can't really expect more from employees. Not in this era. I however would have answered but would have felt horrible for declining. Sort of a lose lose situation he was put in.

 

[jaminmd]

I work for a surgeon, who happens to be a VP. He's a narcissist and only cares about how good he looks.

He makes over $800k a year. I don't. I am exempt but nowhere in my job description or in any of our policies does it state that I am on call 24/7.

I used to be one of those people whose jobs were their identity. It nearly killed me. Not anymore.

I have responded and come in to more than my share of emergencies at my hospital but these people call me for the stupidest things - like they have a question about bedbugs so they text me at 0200 - seriously??

I am tired of leaving lists of contacts and resources when I am away, yet it's easier to call me instead. *insert eye roll here*.

I work with some of the most intelligent people in my field and some of them don't have a lick of common sense. It's scary. However, I have set my boundaries with them and won't waver.

Nurses get walked all over. I am a specialist in my particular field but I also deal with an inordinate amount of stupidity. I get paid to do that, so it comes with the territory. However, my time away from work is MINE. if that makes me "not a team player" so be it. I'm almost 50 so my career building days are over.

Sorry. Rant over.

 

[Nancyg56]

Well whether he ignored your text or he didn't get it you weren't getting the extra person with him either way. Does it lack courtesy? Yes. Should he be required to come in when he isn't scheduled and not on call? No. Unless he is a part owner in the business or owns stock and is invested in the outcome of the bottom line you can't really expect more from employees. Not in this era. I however would have answered but would have felt horrible for declining. Sort of a lose lose situation he was put in.

Yes, how do you say no? I can, but it seems that the mentality here is that if you are home you are available. The group text would have been the reason I ignored the text. You want me? You need to be personal.

 

[anniemae]

Unless he is on call, I don't think he had to answer. It would have been nice if he sent a quick text saying he was unavailable, but maybe his phone was off, or in the car, or had a dead battery.

Now if he was on call, that's different. You must have your phone charged and with you and always answer if you are on call. Sounds like the people at work just wanted more help. Not his problem. He was off, can't blame him. It was a long holiday weekend.

 

[Nancyg56]

I work for a surgeon, who happens to be a VP. He's a narcissist and only cares about how good he looks.

He makes over $800k a year. I don't. I am exempt but nowhere in my job description or in any of our policies does it state that I am on call 24/7.

I used to be one of those people whose jobs were their identity. It nearly killed me. Not anymore.

I have responded and come in to more than my share of emergencies at my hospital but these people call me for the stupidest things - like they have a question about bedbugs so they text me at 0200 - seriously??

I am tired of leaving lists of contacts and resources when I am away, yet it's easier to call me instead. *insert eye roll here*.

I work with some of the most intelligent people in my field and some of them don't have a lick of common sense. It's scary. However, I have set my boundaries with them and won't waver.

Nurses get walked all over. I am a specialist in my particular field but I also deal with an inordinate amount of stupidity. I get paid to do that, so it comes with the territory. However, my time away from work is MINE. if that makes me "not a team player" so be it. I'm almost 50 so my career building days are over.

Sorry. Rant over.

I think that once you start being so available it's all over. My Dsis IL is a wizard at what she does, but the most uunderappreciated person I know. Years ago, she was the executive secretary ( I said it was a long time ago) to the president of the most prominent company in or area. Her phone rang at all hours of the day and night, if the boss thought of something he called her, and she had better answer. She did, and she did more and more, and then more. When she finally had enough they could not replace her from within, no one could or would do that job. She has done the same thing in every job she takes, and IMO she is not appreciated, but the employer takes advantage of her willingness to excel.

It is disgraceful, but the attributes that make her so valuable are also the attributes that are a detriment because there are no real boundaries in place. She thinks I am brave because I was able to say no, but I think I just knew how to survive. I would love just ten minutes with her current employer. If they have no idea how valuable she is and the asset they have in her, I would love to make them aware.

 

[tvguy]

I think you misread the articles you posted. WhatsApp cannot tell you whether someone read your texts across any platform. In fact the article clearly says you need to be using an internet based app like WhatsApp or Messenger. If you send a message in Messenger to another person in Messenger, there will be a little checkmark under the message that the recipient has seen it. But there is no way WhatsApp or Messenger can tell you if someone has read a text sent outside of their own particular app.

If I send a text message with the standard built in texting application, there is no way WhatsApp can tell you if somebody has seen that text. It can't even tell you if somebody has read the message in Messenger. It can only tell you if someone has looked at a WhatsApp message.

WhatsApp is a messaging app, it is not a "see if someone received a text" app.

Not sure what my co-workers use, but however it is done, it is a common APP. Boss uses all the time

According to this, with an Android phone, you don't even need an app. https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-know-if-someones-read-your-text-message-on-Android

 

[KimBean]

I think that once you start being so available it's all over. My Dsis IL is a wizard at what she does, but the most uunderappreciated person I know. Years ago, she was the executive secretary ( I said it was a long time ago) to the president of the most prominent company in or area. Her phone rang at all hours of the day and night, if the boss thought of something he called her, and she had better answer. She did, and she did more and more, and then more. When she finally had enough they could not replace her from within, no one could or would do that job. She has done the same thing in every job she takes, and IMO she is not appreciated, but the employer takes advantage of her willingness to excel.

It is disgraceful, but the attributes that make her so valuable are also the attributes that are a detriment because there are no real boundaries in place. She thinks I am brave because I was able to say no, but I think I just knew how to survive. I would love just ten minutes with her current employer. If they have no idea how valuable she is and the asset they have in her, I would love to make them aware.

I was exactly this. In my 20's I didn't go to college and was desperate to prove myself. Started in admin and within 7 years I was a director of the company. But as I got more and more work nothing was ever taken away from me. And even though I was making good money I wasn't making what I should have been for the job that included travel and being away from my kid.

I walked away. And would never do that to myself again.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not sure what my co-workers use, but however it is done, it is a common APP. Boss uses all the time

According to this, with an Android phone, you don't even need an app. https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-know-if-someones-read-your-text-message-on-Android

Do you even read the pages you link to? The first answer shows there MIGHT be a delivery (doesn't mean 'read') receipt. Over the next few answers...

Based on how text messages (SMS) works it's not possible to see if someone read them or not.

Since read receipts would be handled by phone carriers, and since phone carriers don’t share personal information like that with each other, there is no way you can tell if other’s reads your text messages.

If you’re talking about ordinary SMS messages, so it’s not possible as the network operators will never give you such access to their customer’s information, it’s considered as a private data.

SMS can't be shown if they are being read or not read.

Ask your boss what he uses.

 

[because]

Not sure what my co-workers use, but however it is done, it is a common APP. Boss uses all the time

According to this, with an Android phone, you don't even need an app. https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-know-if-someones-read-your-text-message-on-Android

Again that link says nothing about seeing if someone can tell if a message is read across all platforms.

I am pretty tech savvy and I have never heard of this even being a possibility (see post above) If this app exists it would be something I would download in a heartbeat. Would it be possible to ask your coworkers what app they are using that does this and report back here? I am sure many of us would love to know about new apps.

 

[ashley0139]

Not sure what my co-workers use, but however it is done, it is a common APP. Boss uses all the time

According to this, with an Android phone, you don't even need an app. https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-know-if-someones-read-your-text-message-on-Android

It's not a common app. It's not a thing. You really have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[monsterkitty]

This exactly. But he is nototrious for "not getting" his texts. He blames the phone all the time. We could have used the extra person. But he just blew it off

My husband and I are also "notorious" for getting our texts because we live in a dead zone for cell service. Once we leave the house, drive about a mile, our phones light up with text messages we missed.

You do realize that not everyone has cell coverage everywhere they go, right?

 

[tvguy]

Do you even read the pages you link to? The first answer shows there MIGHT be a delivery (doesn't mean 'read') receipt. Over the next few answers...




Ask your boss what he uses.

His response. "if you have an iPhone, you should be able to see it if it's in "Blue" instead of "green" under the conversation. If you swipe to the left you'll get the time the message was read. Doesn't matter what the provider is or if the phone on the other end is Android or iPhone I hope that helps".

If you have further questions Google "can you tell when a text message has been read" because I am not going to link all the APPS that claim they will tell you when a text has been read.
I do know, as someone who has my cell phone ID blocked, that it is not blocked in texting, so more information is sent with a text than a call, so it seems possible to have a return receipt like e-mail for a text. Moving on.

 

[tvguy]

It's not a common app. It's not a thing. You really have no idea what you're talking about.

I respectfully disagree. See above

 

[DaisyJ]

His response. "if you have an iPhone, you should be able to see it if it's in "Blue" instead of "green" under the conversation. If you swipe to the left you'll get the time the message was read. Doesn't matter what the provider is or if the phone on the other end is Android or iPhone I hope that helps".

If you have further questions Google "can you tell when a text message has been read" because I am not going to link all the APPS that claim they will tell you when a text has been read.
I do know, as someone who has my cell phone ID blocked, that it is not blocked in texting, so more information is sent with a text than a call, so it seems possible to have a return receipt like e-mail for a text. Moving on.

Nope. I have an iphone and have the 'text read' feature turned off but still use imessage (blue).

 

[DaisyJ]

I respectfully disagree. See above

Your post above is wrong. Swiping to the left shows when it was delivered, NOT when it was read.

 

[focusondisney]

I'm not allowed to have my cell phone on me at work and answer personal texts or phone calls when I am on company time unless it is an emergency....they in turn do not get to expect me to respond to them when I am on personal time unless it is an emergency. Scheduling issues are not an emergency unless you work for a hospital or other type of first responder company. A mattress store does not fall in that category IMO.

Exactly! I will add on tho- I am a hospital RN for 39 years. I have gotten phone messages for extra shifts over the years & no, I don't usually call back. If they are looking for help, they move on down the list if you don't answer. I don't call back to tell them I can't come in. If I could or was interested in the extra shift, I would call back. I give my all when I am at work but I have no interest in working any more time than I was hired for.

I do not think it is rude or unprofessional to ignore any work calls, emails or texts on your day off. As an hourly employee, if you aren't paying me for that hour, you get no say in how I spend it.

And even at a hospital, all scheduling is not an emergency. Many of our staffing issues are a result of bad management decisions. When you know there are staffing issues for weeks, it is not an emergency that requires staff to come in extra. Hire enough people in the first place & there would be far fewer staffing crises.

And thanks to a union contract, I don't have to worry about some manager deciding to punish me or fire me just because I only want to work the hours I was hired for.

 

[tvguy]

Your post above is wrong. Swiping to the left shows when it was delivered, NOT when it was read.

Okay, clearly I am missing something there. Wouldn't you need to click on it for it to be delivered?