To not like impromptu calls on MS Teams?

20 years ago can you imagine telling your boss you needed a warning before somebody rang you?

Well, times have moved on and communication etiquette in many offices has moved on with it.

I simply don't have time for every query thrown my way to be handled by video call, with appropriate pleasantries and bits of small talk, as is human nature when meeting face to face.

20 years ago, would you have been expected to hold 30 individual face-to-face meetings with colleagues in one day? With no notice or time to prep in advance, no idea what the query is? Of course not...who'd have the time. Plus it's totally time inefficient - the person being called may have to search for information, access certain client details or spreadsheets or whatever which takes time as it's a cold referral. Whilst the caller sits waiting, staring at you.

A video call is closer to an in-person meeting than a phone call. Totally unrealistic to be available for them with no notice.

You pretend that you’re not at your job? Christ! And people wonder why management want people back in the office. Either answer the call, or decline and message that you’re busy.

I don't like it because a) I'm often in the middle of something I'd like to finish, and b) the people who often say 'this'll just be a quick chat' take 40 minutes to go through something they could have emailed to me. That's why I now just don't answer for those people.

So you essentially have an issue with doing your job. When people call me (unannounced) and apologise for disturbing me I actually say don’t be so silly, it’s green call any time. If I miss it, I’ll call you back.

update will be your the receptionist 🤣🤣

If you are busy then just decline it and send them a message asking if they can speak later. I often do this if I am in an area where I don't want to disturb others and need a minute to find a different spot.

I did go through a period of trying to send people messages before calling but half the time they wouldn't see them and so I gave up and now just ring people. I do need to do my job and can't wait around all day for people to acknowledge Teams messages.

I have heard people at work say that they worry that if there is a phone call out of the blue it means something bad has happened. But the more we get into sending messages first as a norm the more people are going to worry about this rather than just assuming it's a standard call. I also honestly worry that people are not mentally robust enough to deal with calls as part of their job - there seems to have been a massive deterioration since I started working 15 years ago.

I feel the opposite, I find it mildly irritating when people ask, I'd rather just get straight into the conversation. Why add another step to a simple call?

My day is filled with impromptu Teams calls, or at best ‘can we just jump on?’ calls.

I’ll elect to not turn on my camera unless it’s a scheduled call. Is this because I might be under my duvet or wearing a face mask? Yes.

It doesn't bother me, because either I am fine to answer or I message to say I will get back to them as soon as I have finished xyz.

Use your teams status as its intended! If you are deep in concentration on a particular task, then set it to DND, otherwise YABU to expect people to message you first!

I think it totally depends on your workplace culture. It is really unusual for anyone to call me when WFH without dropping me a message first to see if it's a good time. DH however is back and forth on Teams calls all day when he WFH and it's totally normal in his workplace to just cold call.

My work is much more about research and writing whilst his is more fast-paced and collaborative which probably explains the different approaches. It's very rare that anyone needs information off me/ to discuss something urgently, whereas for him that's a key part of his role.

I agree with you op. It sets me on edge.

I don't like taking unexpected phone calls either.

I don’t understand. If I don’t feel like I want to take a teams call I just ignore it and call the person back when I’m not busy. Same with phone calls.

YANBU. I don’t mind being interrupted for a quick question but I have a mobile phone (as does everyone in my company) and I don’t understand why people don’t use it. Why a Teams call instead of just picking up the phone? With Teams I have to faff around with putting on a headset etc, which I don’t always have ready because I get maybe one call per day, whereas a phone you can just pick up and answer straight away.

If it’s anything longer than a very quick question, as others have pointed out, you could always schedule a call or send a message first. Personally I would tend to schedule.

When you put it like that...

If I’m Green it’s fair game, if I want to be left alone I’ll put myself on DND

It wasn’t that long ago really - for me 7 years? The look from your secretary when you let it bounce and it went to them 🤣

My work has a policy that cameras are always on and it works really well. I freelance so I’ve worked in loads of places and it actually works the best at this place. It actually feels like you’re part of a team even though you’re remote. Other places are very isolated.

On the other hand I don’t tend to ‘cold call’ people myself- I’ll send a message asking if they can spare two minutes for a chat about x please.
it’s usually a bit more efficient if you’ve given people some notice to talk about a particular thing (they can refresh their memory/get up to speed about the subject) but don’t expect everyone to do the same.

I use Zoom not Teams for calls but I hate it too.

Zoom bombs. Fuck off.

I just don't answer. Then they Teams me their one sentence question which I answer within 30 seconds. No need to make a musical of it.

I like a letter to be posted to me informing me I will soon get an email, then an email telling me that person is about to send me a Teams message, then a Teams message saying they are about to call me. Only after that am I able to talk on the phone. Afterwards I have a treat for being brave and lie down for 30 minutes.

Meh depends. If I've been trying to get hold of someone for ages & I spot them green I might take the opportunity although I generally ping them first to see if it's OK.
Just don't answer if you don't want to talk 🤷‍♀️

Agree. I work entirely remotely and make sure everyone knows if they need to do the remote worker equivalent of “swinging their chair round” and asking a question they absolutely can.

I mean a quick message is nice, but if I'm showing as green, I'm happy to take calls! Whyever not!

YABU - you should be available to take calls during work time. If you’re not set your status to away or busy.