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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss keeps contacting me while on leave?

135 replies

wetlettuce41 · 23/10/2025 09:02

AIBU to want to be left alone to enjoy my leave?

Only on my second day of leave, and both days I have had missed calls from my boss at 8am…

Then he got a colleague to text me and ask for a call back.

Yesterday I did phone back, thinking it was urgent.

It really wasn’t. To do with my flexible working arrangement not having its yearly review back in June. This was supposed to be done by previous boss. I logged on yesterday as requested by new boss and sent through all the paperwork, forwarded the emails from June to show that I did send old boss the paperwork… I don’t know why it hasn’t been done. He said HR is on his back about it.

Not my problem is it?

I’ve done what was asked yesterday and this morning I’ve had another 8am phone call when I am trying to relax and text messages asking me to call back.

I work in the public sector. Never had this before. Boss is newly promoted.

OP posts:
FamilyPhoto · 23/10/2025 10:08

pinkfondu · 23/10/2025 09:11

Log this now as unreasonable behaviour. And ask when you’ll be getting your holiday back!

This!
I had the same thing from a previous manager - 1st occasion I replied ( it was about a very small paper order that she could have easily delegated/ done herself) I said not an emergency, please don't contact me again.
2nd occasion I emailed HR.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 23/10/2025 10:03

If he contacts you again just respond, "Hi Steve. As you know I have been on annual leave since yesterday and am not due to return to work until 3rd November. I sent you the paperwork you asked for yesterday but please do not ask me to do anything else during my annual leave because I have the right not to be disturbed during this time."

And copy in your HR contact.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 23/10/2025 10:00

I’d text him saying please can you wait until I’m back working before contacting me again about work? And then block him for the remainder of your leave. In France his behaviour is illegal’

Wookiefiend · 23/10/2025 09:58

HelplessSoul · 23/10/2025 09:46

Your new manager is a clueless cunt.

Launch a grievance on him for harassing you while on leave.

Thats the minimum you should be doing OP.

This is terrible advice. Have you ever seen a grievance followed through to it's conclusion and did that ever end well for the complainant? Sometimes it's necessary, but for this?

idri · 23/10/2025 09:56

I’m starting to wonder if we have the same boss - do you work for civil service?

That’s really out of order of him. Start ignoring his messages and say you’ve been busy etc, or alternatively be honest and say you’ve got plans and haven’t had time to get back to him, but that’s easier said than done :/.

I would be tempted to just ignore him though.

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/10/2025 09:55

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 23/10/2025 09:04

“I’m on leave. I’ll respond when I’m back.”

Then stop responding. You’re enabling this shitty behaviour.

This.

Original poster
wetlettuce41 · 23/10/2025 09:55

I don’t think HR will give me 2 days back for phone calls? It only took me 10 mins or so to send the paperwork through yesterday, not the whole day. But I feel like it’s set my leave off on the wrong foot, I just don’t want to be bothered about work while I’m off. Especially something that isn’t my fault, I sent my paperwork to my previous manager when I should have and she emailed me and said it was on the system and all sorted- I’ve forwarded those emails yesterday.

OP posts:
HelplessSoul · 23/10/2025 09:46

Your new manager is a clueless cunt.

Launch a grievance on him for harassing you while on leave.

Thats the minimum you should be doing OP.

Borethefuckoff · 23/10/2025 09:45

You’re on leave.
Don’t answer. Block calls from this number until you’re back. Leave phone on silent so you’re not woken.
Tell HR on your return.
There is no obligation!

TheSandgroper · 23/10/2025 09:42

I would be contacting HR and telling them you need yesterday and today given back as two days of leave to be taken another time as you are being expected to work.

Your entitlement to leave is legally mandated and all that.

Wookiefiend · 23/10/2025 09:38

I'm happy to answer a genuinely urgent question on leave, but this would not be OK.

I'd send a message saying, I'm on leave, I'll deal with this when I'm back, please can we have a 121 then, to discuss these interruptions to my break.

Then set out what is OK/not OK for you. I don't look at any email etc when I'm off, but boss knows when something is genuinely urgent I will do what I can to help. She uses that maybe once or twice a year!

Cardinalita90 · 23/10/2025 09:36

Clearly YANBU and I'm surprised he thinks 8am is an acceptable time to call anyone whether they're on leave or not! You need to set some boundaries or this will become the norm.

ChaToilLeam · 23/10/2025 09:32

That's really out of order. 3 people in my workplace have my personal number and they know it is only for dire emergencies, they absolutely respect that. If I see my own direct reports replying to emails when on holiday, I message them and tell them just to enjoy their break; get off the computer. Tell him you are ON LEAVE and will deal with any queries when you are back. What's your work policy on that, is there one?

JurassicPark4Eva · 23/10/2025 09:31

"Morning John,

Could you put a placeholder on Teams / on my calendar for next week to sort this out when I'm back off AL?

Best, wetlettuce"

Doggymummar · 23/10/2025 09:27

I have my phone on do not disturb from 9pm to 9am generally. If I was on holiday I might extend those hours.

Tamfs · 23/10/2025 09:26

wetlettuce41 · 23/10/2025 09:23

So yesterday I did phone back, as I saw a few missed calls then I had a text from my colleague. I assumed it was something urgent because of that.

Now that I know it’s not… to have more calls at just a few minutes past 8 this morning when I’m in bed has really annoyed me. I’m usually up early as I have a long commute so was looking forward to being able to have a lie in!

I feel in a difficult position as the new boss has been making a point of reviewing mine and other peoples reasonable adjustments (I have a disability), and has made comments that he is needing to check if “people are working in the right place”. There has been at atmosphere since he came of the team feeling on edge. I’m worried if I push back it will make things worse at work for me.

Oh that changes things a bit - I would absolutely be logging all this if he is on the dig for getting people out.

pinkfondu · 23/10/2025 09:25

Isn’t the public sector hot on bullying and discrimination?

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/10/2025 09:24

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 23/10/2025 09:18

If the building is on fire, they should contact the fire brigade, not OP!

Show quote history

Well yes, but it'd be helpful to know what the contingency plan is rather than turning up to a burnt building 😂

Talltreesbythelake · 23/10/2025 09:23

I would contact HR to make them aware that you have had x number of contacts during annual leave and inquire whether this is a serious matter, should you cancel your leave and rebook it for later in the year? You might as well be in the office as you are not going to be relaxing tomorrow morning, are you?

Original poster
wetlettuce41 · 23/10/2025 09:23

So yesterday I did phone back, as I saw a few missed calls then I had a text from my colleague. I assumed it was something urgent because of that.

Now that I know it’s not… to have more calls at just a few minutes past 8 this morning when I’m in bed has really annoyed me. I’m usually up early as I have a long commute so was looking forward to being able to have a lie in!

I feel in a difficult position as the new boss has been making a point of reviewing mine and other peoples reasonable adjustments (I have a disability), and has made comments that he is needing to check if “people are working in the right place”. There has been at atmosphere since he came of the team feeling on edge. I’m worried if I push back it will make things worse at work for me.

OP posts:
Ellie1015 · 23/10/2025 09:20

I dont really mind being contacted on AL, but 8 times for such a non urgent issue, especially so early in the morning would absolutely not be ok and boss would loose any goodwill around me answering a quick urgent text while on AL.

I would mute/block work until you are back. When you are back I would raise it with boss to make sure it does not happen again.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 23/10/2025 09:18

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/10/2025 09:06

Hi boss, I'm on holiday so won't reply to any more messages. Unless the building has burned down, there's nothing that can't wait til I'm back.

If the building is on fire, they should contact the fire brigade, not OP!

LeedsLoiner · 23/10/2025 09:14

Start phoning you boss late on Saturday or Sunday evenings or very early on Sunday morning just to ask trivial stuff.
Make sure you phone him at 6.00 a.m. this Sunday (assuming you're back at work on Monday) and ask "anything I need to be aware of for when I come back tomorrow?"

pinkfondu · 23/10/2025 09:11

Log this now as unreasonable behaviour. And ask when you’ll be getting your holiday back!

hellotojason · 23/10/2025 09:10

I'm a public sector manager - the only occasion I could do this is if it was a serious safeguarding concern that needed their input /court mandated but even then would be doing everything to avoid speaking with the person on leave. In my local authority this would be something I'd end up with a telling off for (rightly). In essence what I'm saying is this is your manager not understanding boundaries and is not an expectation you respond. I'd respond as others have suggested and then if on WA I would archive the chat until you're back in work so don't see them.