How to deal w manager?

[callmemaybee]

Hi, my company is obsessed with Teams.

My manager regularly schedules “5 minute meetings” during my breaks and I’m sick of it. Friday, I ended up being on Teams with her for the entire duration of my hour break - she knew it was my break but told me it would be quick (🙄)

She doesn’t see a problem with me essentially working through my break by meeting at that time. She’ll schedule 1-1s, document requests etc specifically on my break as to not impact my normal duties. As she knows it’s my break as well, she isn’t even punctual. I’ll be waiting for her at 12:00 when she’ll call at 12:30. Therefore I don’t have the flexibility to leave the office in case she calls.

How can I be more assertive with my manager without “marking my card” so to speak? I hate Teams

Have your break after? Make sure she knows that you have moved your break and will not be working. Send an email saying that you are on a break between X and Y time and will therefore not be available.

I've had this happen and just take my full hour break after. I'm sure there'll be some way HR could back you up because you're entitled to your break.

I lock my computer when on lunch otherwise I find people people call. Say you are going to step away from your computer between x times (I put it in my calendar as well, I'm flexible on moving it), and then if they call take your break after. I know it's hard, but you are entitled to that time away, probably aren't being paid for it, and it doesn't sound like these are urgent, time critical things.

Mark yourself as away during your break times and just don't answer

Just say unless she wants to push it back until after your break, you will be having your break later than usual after the meeting.

I'd just propose a different time when the meeting request came through, and put a calendar appt in every day during my lunch hour to say unavailable.

Thank you all. Some great ideas. I’m going to change my calendar first thing on Monday and if she asks for anything work related, will definitely either delay my break or reschedule!

She’s a very difficult woman to say no to though!

You need to tell her no, be brave! My manager wanted a quick 15 minute catch up this week, so I scheduled it 20 minutes before another appointment. ‘Oh, so sorry, got to go, I’ve got blahblah whatever at 1, must fly, sorry, byeeee’.

If she requests meetings in your break, rsvp on Teams ’No’, with a note saying this is your break. Only rsvp yes if it suits you.

Reject the meeting request and suggest an appropriate alternative time

If she's running late switch your status and go to lunch.

Create a lunch specific status that includes the time you'll be unreachable for. If it needs to stronger turn on a lunch break OOO message.

If she says it's a 10 min meeting schedule a private meeting your calender at the end time and politely explain that you have another commitment you need to get to, and if she balks then give her your available follow up times within your working hours.

Call her out at the end of the lunchtime call " thanks for running me through this work CF-Manager, our call has overran so I'm now going to take my lunch hour, expect me back in the office by XX time"

Her behaviour is unreasonable but you are enabling it. Even if she pulled you up on not taking a call she hasn't got a leg to stand on, you have a right to a lunch hour. Just always make sure you provide an alternative to demonstrate your willingness to do the task/work.

Just an update. I haven’t been as available this week and my manager has definitely noticed. She’s been signing off every response to my rejection to her inane meetings with “regards” and “best”