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Original poster

How often do you talk to your manager

62 replies

Carly944 · 11/05/2024 17:30

I started a new job a month ago. I had a one to one meeting with my manager on the first day.

Since then she has never spoken to me. Not once.

We sit at a row of computers with a team. My manager sits two computers away from me.

She will just sit there all day doing her own work. And she will get up to talk to other managers. She will occasionally send us messages on teams if she wants us to know anything.

Other than that, she never ever speaks to us, even though we sit right beside her.

Is that not a bit weird?

I brought it up to my managers, manager.

I said "she never speaks to us". And the woman said "well do you speak to her".

!! I mean surely it's the boss's duty to interact with her staff. But I have actually tried to speak to her anyway and she just said she was busy

Surely as our boss she should be interacting with us. I just find the whole set up very weird

OP posts:
Doyouthinktheyknow · 11/05/2024 18:01

I am a manager and I speak to all the staff on duty when I come in and regularly throughout the day! Cannot imagine not speaking to my team! My office is normally open and people are in and out all day as well.

My manager only works part time but I speak with her every day she is in.

catin8oots · 11/05/2024 17:59

Once a week maybe?

Eminybob · 11/05/2024 17:59

I speak to my manager every day. We have a daily team meeting, plus often chat by teams and I'll pop over and speak to him and vice versa when in the office.

I am a manager also and have a daily team meeting with my reports. When in the office I'll try and do a floor walk in the morning, go and say hi to my team, have a chat, make sure they are all ok. Same at the end of the day.
Plus I have a (virtual) open door policy, my team often call and vice versa when we're WFH.

aviatorsrus · 11/05/2024 17:58

We are a open space office. We all speak to him daily and ask questions etc..My manager has desk behind me and I speak to him everyday. And privately outside if I need speak to him and if not work related and personal information.
We all do in the office.

Original poster
Carly944 · 11/05/2024 17:45

I said to the woman above her that my manager never speaks to us. And she said "oh maybe she's just shy. Do you speak to her"

I found her answer just as strange!

Like managers are meant to interact and see how things are going with staff. My last managers did this

OP posts:
G5000 · 11/05/2024 17:41

When I was a new manager, I made the mistake of assuming - as my manager was a horrible micromanager and I dreaded the interrogations 1-2-1 meetings, I assumed the best manager is empowering, but as hands off as possible. Well, that is of course misguided. I now discuss with my team what works for them, they have all chosen to have weekly meetings, and I talk to them most days.

If she hasn't done it, why don't you book a meeting with your manager and ask what her expectations are and how you could best work together?

lozrox90 · 11/05/2024 17:39

My manager makes a point of speaking to me every day, whether it's a quick call to catch-up or a message exchange on Teams if it's a particularly busy day (we WFH). That's definitely very unusual and really weird to not have spoken to your manager more than once since last month, especially if you're working in close proximity! It sounds like she doesn't know how to manage.

BarryKentPoet · 11/05/2024 17:39

We sit in a single office holding 8 members of staff including my boss, we all chat and gossip and also discuss work stuff.

Tryingtobebridechilla · 11/05/2024 17:37

That’s mad. I am a manager and I am in contact with team members at least 3 times a week if not daily

Gizlotsmum · 11/05/2024 17:36

Dependant on work requirements it tends to be daily ( informal check in via teams/ in person). We have a regular weekly catch up and monthly larger team meetings

Funkyslippers · 11/05/2024 17:35

I can relate. In my previous job we had a temporary manager and everyone else met her on her first day but I didn't start till later that morning and she just sat in her office and made no attempt to speak to me for at least 2 weeks. She saw me and would have known I was a member of the team. In the end I introduced myself but almost wish I had seen how much longer she wouldn't speak to me! She wasn't shy. She was just weird with poor people skills. I think it's terrible that your manager is making no effort to see how you're getting on etc

Doyoumind · 11/05/2024 17:34

YANBU but, as I've said before on similar threads, many managers aren't expected to and don't know how to manage nowadays and people don't seem to care.

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