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Original poster

Expected to start teams meetings?

457 replies

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 14:40

I’ve started a new job and my diary for now is very empty with few meetings and there’s quite a lot of training material that I have to go through.

My manager is always in back to back meetings and he’s put two 30 minute catchups in with me for the first month. From experience meetings tend to overrun so I’ve waited for him to be ready for our call and then I’ll hop on as I’m just reading - or he might need a loo break or get a drink.

Today it got to 5 past our meeting and he messaged me to say “are you joining”. So I started the call and he said that I am expected to always start the meetings.

Obviously once I’m more busy I won’t even give it a second thought as to who starts a meeting, but this seems such a weird rule to me.

OP posts:
Mumofnetters · 29/10/2024 16:04

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:04

Fingers crossed he sacks me soon ☺️☺️

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Probably will - good luck!

CreamLampshade · 29/10/2024 16:04

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 14:50

I’m not sat there twiddling my thumbs. I’m doing the training materials - which is a lot. More than any other company I’ve worked for.

And sometimes you can’t help turning up late to a teams meeting. You’re seriously telling me you’ve never once been in a meeting that’s overrun by 2 or 3 minutes?

You’ve used a lot of exclamation marks … you seemed very horrified by this … that’s quite worrying. Also you can’t be that busy at your job scrolling on Mumsnet at 3pm.

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Your tone is really nasty. You’ve started a new job, and already you’re using reading training materials as an excuse for being late for a meeting with your manager. I think you need to look at yourself first before flying off the handle at someone.

The normal etiquette is to arrive to a meeting on time. You don’t assume someone will be late - that in itself is rude. It’s not like you’ve been there long enough to make that assumption anyway.

What your manager is trying to say is that it’s not his responsibility to make sure the meeting starts on time - but it is yours.

and yes normal to be a little late but honestly, with my manager? Never. And hardly ever anyway. It’s bad form.

you sound like you have an attitude problem.

Harvestfestivalknickers · 29/10/2024 16:04

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 29/10/2024 15:59

Yes, this is normal in every workplace I've worked in.

If your boss doesn't join for a few minutes, you could send him a message asking if he needs to delay/reschedule, but you dial in at the start time regardless.

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Yep, I don't think this is outdated at all. Normal for my workplace too.

Original poster
surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:04

Mumofnetters · 29/10/2024 16:03

Yes, I always join Teams meetings as soon as I can.

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Fingers crossed he sacks me soon ☺️☺️

OP posts:
TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 29/10/2024 16:03

Onlyonekenobe · 29/10/2024 15:58

Are you a millennial?

The oldest millennials are now 43 years old (born in 1981) and the youngest are 28, so on average, millenials will be in their mid-30s.

Do you seriously think that a cohort who have been in the workplace for at least a decade routinely behave like this at work?

Or are you just using the word 'millennial' as an insult?

Gwenhwyfar · 29/10/2024 16:03

Trigraph · 29/10/2024 15:05

I just don't really understand why it's an issue. There are so many things to get stressed about at work and this isn't one. In fact, it's an easy win with your boss.

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Then why is her boss making a big deal out of it?

Butchyrestingface · 29/10/2024 16:03

That's my feeling. He might be rude, he might be wanting to exert his power, etc, etc. But he's the OP's manager and the OP is presumably still on probation, sitting there with, by her own admission, a fairly empty diary. I'd suck it up.

Original poster
surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:03

ladykale · 29/10/2024 16:00

Join and go on mute.

Always assume your boss is busier than you - it's a good principle to adopt in life.

He should never be waiting for you (unless you are on another work related call overrunning).

Think you’ve missed the entire point. I’ve always assumed he’s busier than I am.

OP posts:
Mumofnetters · 29/10/2024 16:03

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:03

Do you have a job?

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Yes, I always join Teams meetings as soon as I can.

Original poster
surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:03

Mumofnetters · 29/10/2024 16:02

He’s busier than you and more important than you.

Be better at your job.

Do you have a job?

OP posts:
Original poster
surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:02

Onlyonekenobe · 29/10/2024 15:58

Are you a millennial?

Are you a boomer?

OP posts:
Mumofnetters · 29/10/2024 16:02

He’s busier than you and more important than you.

Be better at your job.

Original poster
surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 16:02

Ewock · 29/10/2024 15:54

Why have you put it on here? Anything people say you are responding to negatively and aggressively at points. If he's late he is late, however as your manager he will be looking at your time keeping for meetings. You may feel it isn't fair but part of your job will be to be on time (I'm assuming that as most roles do have that included).
If it's an issue discuss it with him, if not then you know where you stand and move forward with that knowledge.

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Ah yes the old Mumsnet trope of “you sound aggressive” - would you always like to throw in “are you usually this angry?”

No one is being aggressive. If you’re choosing to read text in an aggressive manner then carry on, but just because that’s your narrative it doesn’t make it true.

And I’m solely posting for opinions on what I said. The people that wet their pants and fall over themselves to tell you how you won’t last in your job and how they personally view you as irrelevant to me - they don’t know me, they don’t work with me, they know nothing about my work history. I could turn around and say you’re shite at your job and you wouldn’t care because I’m a stranger to you and neither do I employ you.

OP posts:
Ewock · 29/10/2024 16:01

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 15:57

I can’t find the post now, but I agree there’s too many outdated opinions on this thread. Even using the word “boss” seems so beyond outdated to me. Seems the type of word someone in middle management would use to describe themselves and declare they “pay your wages” - as if it directly comes out of their HSBC current account.

I’ve been lucky that I’ve had good managers previously that don’t make up pointless rules to insert authority. Ive only ever had one manager who lorded his authority and he lost his position and was demoted within six months.

Times have drastically moved on since Covid.

🤣😂 the drama of your post is hilarious

ladykale · 29/10/2024 16:00

Join and go on mute.

Always assume your boss is busier than you - it's a good principle to adopt in life.

He should never be waiting for you (unless you are on another work related call overrunning).

BeMintBee · 29/10/2024 16:00

PuddlesPityParty · 29/10/2024 15:58

Yawn. Casual ageism on MN again. Just because it’s a younger generation doesn’t make it okay. I’m Gen Z and have never acted like OP. The truth is every generation has lazy entitled people.

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Ahh bless your sensitive soul. Maybe the boss is a boomer and can’t find the start meeting button so needs his minion to do it for him.

Gwenhwyfar · 29/10/2024 16:00

TianasBayou · 29/10/2024 14:49

If it were in real life you wouldn't hover around the meeting room and enter only when the other party arrives? Same on teams.

Yes, people do this in the office too.

AdviceNeeded2024 · 29/10/2024 16:00

Generally wherever I’ve worked usually the person who arranged the meeting starts it, whoever they are, or the chair of the meeting but I would always join on time and start the meeting if they hadn’t done so.

It could be as you say he asks because of attitude to junior employees, or equally it could be he is asking because he’s stuck in loads of meetings himself, is tight for time and it helps to keep him on track if you start the meeting. Or maybe it’s how he likes to work and the way he is used to. It could be a number of reasons which unless you ask, you won’t know, but I wouldn’t recommend asking to be honest.

If that’s the way he wants it I’d just do it and try not to get too hung up on it. We all have had managers who like things a certain way, even if it puzzles us sometimes you just have to go along with it.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 29/10/2024 15:59

TheDandyLion · 29/10/2024 14:52

Sure it doesn't matter who 'starts' the meeting. You just join when you're suppose to - at the start time.

Yes, this is normal in every workplace I've worked in.

If your boss doesn't join for a few minutes, you could send him a message asking if he needs to delay/reschedule, but you dial in at the start time regardless.

Bruceycake · 29/10/2024 15:59

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 15:57

I can’t find the post now, but I agree there’s too many outdated opinions on this thread. Even using the word “boss” seems so beyond outdated to me. Seems the type of word someone in middle management would use to describe themselves and declare they “pay your wages” - as if it directly comes out of their HSBC current account.

I’ve been lucky that I’ve had good managers previously that don’t make up pointless rules to insert authority. Ive only ever had one manager who lorded his authority and he lost his position and was demoted within six months.

Times have drastically moved on since Covid.

This is a bit overdramatic OP, he’s only asked you to join meetings on time 😂

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 29/10/2024 15:59

OP is one of those posters where any criticism or comments not going her way and she immediately goes on defence attack mode.

In OP’s case yes I’d start the meeting first and wait for him to join.

Onlyonekenobe · 29/10/2024 15:58

Are you a millennial?

Cosyblankets · 29/10/2024 15:58

What is it about clicking the button that you find so hard?
Today's meeting is at 2pm so at 2pm you click join.
It's been explained to you that you're expected to be ready so you just click join at the right time.

DinosaurMunch · 29/10/2024 15:58

surrpundedby · 29/10/2024 15:46

Where did I say I’ve been late to every single meeting?

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You said you never start the meeting on time because you're waiting for your boss to start it and only then will you join .

PuddlesPityParty · 29/10/2024 15:58

BeMintBee · 29/10/2024 15:55

Aah Gen Z. God love ‘em.

Yawn. Casual ageism on MN again. Just because it’s a younger generation doesn’t make it okay. I’m Gen Z and have never acted like OP. The truth is every generation has lazy entitled people.