To think that it's not my fault if my boss has a crap phone signal?

[FigWig]

Have been in a new job for about 2 months. Boss is ok in general but always has to be right.

She travels a lot with work and regularly, ie at least twice each day, phones me from out on the road. I am on a landline and she is using her mobile phone.

Each and every time that she calls and there is any bad signal, presumably when she is driving through somewhere with a poor signal (hands free phone btw), she starts shouting at me "YOU'RE BREAKING UP" as if it's my fault. She'll then start shouting "ARE YOU THERE?" and when she can hear me again she'll say "Oh, you're back at last!" as if I'm being awkward and making the phone line go strange. If the line goes dead and she or I has to phone the other one back, she then moans at me and says how bad the line is and how I apparently kept breaking up and so have missed parts of the conversation.

I know it sounds very trivial and minor, but it is really beginning to piss me off. Like I said, she does always like to be right, and I guess anything that doesn't go right for her gets blamed on other people. I just don't like being shouted at all the time for something that isn't my fault!

I have tried very politely pointing out that it is her signal because she's travelling, but she ignores me if I say it.

I'm also a bit pissed off with her because she repeatedly phones me at home in the evenings once I've finished work and then wants to talk about work for half an hour, usually when I am sorting the kids tea or baths out. I only work part time for a reason; because I have young DC, but she seems to think that work is my life.

It's only a minimum wage job.....

[AlpacaYourThings]

Sounds like its just the way she is, I would try and not take any offence.

I'm also a bit pissed off with her because she repeatedly phones me at home in the evenings once I've finished work and then wants to talk about work for half an hour, usually when I am sorting the kids tea or baths out. I only work part time for a reason; because I have young DC, but she seems to think that work is my life.

This however is a separate issue and is not acceptable. I suggest you tackle this issue with her and not her telephone manner. Bigger fish to fry and all that.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

'Landlines don't lose signal boss, that's your mobile'.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

I'm also a bit pissed off with her because she repeatedly phones me at home in the evenings once I've finished work and then wants to talk about work for half an hour, usually when I am sorting the kids tea or baths out. I only work part time for a reason; because I have young DC, but she seems to think that work is my life.

Don't answer these calls...

[FigWig]

I know the shouting at me thing isn't that big but it just really bugs me. I don't want to get a bollocking day after day for something that's not my fault.

[FigWig]

Think I might go for the broken record technique and say that phrase to her each time she shouts at me, Funky!

[AlpacaYourThings]

"The lack of signal seems to be frustrating you, do you want to call me back when you have better signal" may also be useful.

[TracyBarlow]

Don't answer your phone outside of working hours. If she asks why you didn't answer, tell her you were unavailable. Repeat.

The breaking up signal thing is a side issue and I'd just take a deep breath each time she mentions it and ignore her

[MimiSunshine]

It's really irritating when people do that. But no much you can really do other than grin and bare it.
However stop answering your phone when you're not in work, you set a precedence that it's ok if you do.

No one ever thanks you for it, it doesn't earn you any more and harms your home life. Just leave your phone in your bag (assuming its a work phone) pick up the voicemail first thing and action whatever she mentioned straight away and if she comments on the fact she called you, just smile and say "oh yes, I got your message (note no apology for not picking up) and have done XYZ, how was your evening?"

[FigWig]

She phones on my home landline.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Can you either screen calls using an answer phone, or buy a phone that will let you screen calls?

[PotteringAlong]

Answer phone and screen calls!

[AlpacaYourThings]

Is there anyone else there in the evening? Could they answer and say you are busy/not there. A few times might break her habit.

[specialsubject]

buy an answerphone, or use caller ID and call screen. It's not hard to ignore unwanted calls on a landline.

she is clearly a bit dumb as well as a crap manager. Everyone knows mobiles do not give good call quality.

[specialsubject]

oh, the other top tip - put the phone down while YOU are speaking. She will assume a cut-off on her side and will call back, which may improve the signal.

no-one would ever put the phone down on themselves.

[mellicauli]

You work part time for minimum wage and she calls you out of hours? She is having a laugh! Does she pay you for the out of work hours? If not you are actually getting less than the minimum wage. If I were you, I would run for the hills. She is an abusive exploiter and has no qualms about it.

[Bunbaker]

Take the phone off the hook when you are busy at home.

[FigWig]

She actually comes across as someone who is as thick as two short planks but for various reasons has climbed up the career ladder. I think one of these reasons is because she is quite a bully and treads on other people a lot. The place has a very high turnover of staff as far as I can tell.

[catsofa]

Firstly, fgs do not take her calls outside work time! If it's on a landline and you can't ignore it then answer, say sorry you're busy right now and you'll catch up with her in the morning/whenever you're next meant to be working. Obviously on a mobile you can see who is calling, have a silent ringtone for her number and ignore her entirely out of hours. Nip that habit in the bud before she steals any more of your unpaid time.

When her reception is shit can you ask her how many bars she has? Try to get her in the habit of checking her reception before she bloody calls? Also could you ask her to text if her reception goes rather than trying to shout for ages? Plus of course you can always just hang up in the middle of a conversation and she will assume it is the crappy reception which has cut her off.

This actually doesn't sound very minor to me, it sounds like it's only still bearable because you've only been doing it for 2 months. Even if you are a lot more patient than I am, I think you might want to actually murder her after 6 months.

[Boomtownsurprise]

Do you have caller ID? If so learn her no or turn off phone. Or say it is inappropriate to call me after 6pm. Or something.

I would repeat funky phrase of your phone isn't my issue, a lot.

[pludolphTheRedNosedReindeer]

I don't answer the landline at certain times of day, due to the sales calls, which is a reasonable excuse for you, too. Your boss can't complain, as she really has no right to be badgering you out of hours.

[TattyDevine]

Leave the barstard.

[RobotLover68]

She actually comes across as someone who is as thick as two short planks but for various reasons has climbed up the career ladder. I think one of these reasons is because she is quite a bully and treads on other people a lot. The place has a very high turnover of staff as far as I can tell

she sounds exactly like my ex-boss - always had to be right - she used to do the phone breaking up, moaning like it was my fault, thing. I used to go completely silent until the signal picked up at which point I would say "oh you're back" seemed to get my point across

Definitely don't answer phone out of hours - eventually she'll get the message