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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to give my personal mobile phone number to anyone at work that wants it in order to contact me for days I don't work

81 replies

Sazzas · 19/09/2015 10:07

I work part time in an industry where this is rare. I get that sometimes things are held up and they would like to contact me. But really I love having a separate work life balance. I get stressed easily and the last thing I want is for someone from work to contact me when I'm not working and I have to quickly get my work head back on and sort something out. I like my job but I don't want to provide support for when I'm not working. They have said they won't "abuse it" but tbh I would think any call would be abuse, unless I was paid a on hold fee.

No one lives or dies with my job, I work in consultancy for web forms.

OP posts:
tobysmum77 · 19/09/2015 20:20

People who are good at what they do don't have to toady around being constantly available for free.

This ^^ I am 0.8 and I get paid for 0.8. I have a work phone and its off on Fridays. I can't believe how people think it's fine for employers to take the piss. I am good at what I do and comparatively cheaper than a full timer. If you need to be available full time then they need to pay you for that.

Yanbu op, only my friends have my personal mobile number.

rookiemere · 19/09/2015 20:26

It depends very much on the industry that the person is working in on how much is expected of them.

I work in financial services in the change area and most people of the grade above me ( and at my grade if they wish to be promoted Grin) will regularly work beyond their contracted hours. Meetings are frequently scheduled outside core working hours, and travel is pretty much expected to be in your own time.

At the minute I'm slightly amused as I have been invited to attend a meeting that requires a minimum of 60 mins travel time and is 30 mins earlier than my contracted start time in order to "raise my profile" and apparently the invite is meant to be a rare honour for me rather than a time consuming inconvenience. I'll go if I have to as I quite like my job, but my pre-condition will be being back on time for school pick up.

It sounds to me like this particular job is perhaps one that cannot be done well p/t without back up. It may be not well received to say it but certain jobs can't and I would say most senior jobs ( unless specialized) fall into that bracket unless the job holder is prepared to be at least a little bit flexible in approach.

MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 19/09/2015 20:27

Toady, that's exactly my view. I could have written your post! Work specifically say they feel my office hours should be plentiful- I work bloody hard and there's definitely a need for another days work but why should I do it for free? They didn't want me to work full time, but want me to be available on my day off Hmm. I don't bloody think so!

TheExMotherInLaw · 19/09/2015 20:28

you say you are contactable by email - that should be good enough for any company

Ragwort · 19/09/2015 20:33

People who are good at what they do don't have to toady around being constantly available for free

Yes, but in my opinion there is a big difference between being 'toady' and being flexible - I know which I prefer to be.

It also depends on the sort of area you work in - my colleague and I are the only two in our place of work and if we don't communicate in our 'time off' we would never know what each other was doing - and we do need to know what the arrangements are etc - short of writing and reading massive notes (no email facility Grin) - a quick phone call to update each other is much more preferable.

ShadowLine · 19/09/2015 22:10

If you're going to give them a personal phone number, then I'd either get them to pay for a work mobile, or buy a 2nd phone that you just use for work purposes.

DH's employer used to have our home landline number as well as his mobile number, they wanted contact details for when DH was on call etc. Of course they said they wouldn't abuse it.

We now have a 2nd home landline (which we can turn off the ringer on if we want) because his work kept calling our home landline at antisocial times. Including several times around 3am, waking me and DC, when DH was actually at work and contactable on his work phone or mobile if they'd bothered trying those first.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 19/09/2015 22:17

I have to be on call sometimes, that's the only time I would find it ok to be contacted not really, I would moan

Otherwise they can get lost. I have a life away from work.

janethegirl2 · 19/09/2015 22:17

Most of my colleagues I work with on a regular basis do have my personal mobile number but I have only ever been contacted when there has been a real issue.
Management and HR do not have these details.

Corygal · 19/09/2015 22:23

Resist, resist, resist. They're taking the piss and will continue to do so until you say no.

In my last job I took a rare day off and was rung up whining with a crisis by another manager. She didn't even apol & went on about how vital it was that I dealt with something that had come up. So I said well, I'm dealing with someone whose DD has just got cancer. Because that is important.

I was livid, and for once they shut up.

On a more pedestrian level, the way to get people to stop hassling you is not to pick up on your day off.

Original poster
Sazzas · 20/09/2015 10:44

Gosh this does make me sad the rubbish working conditions that so many put up with!

I'm lucky in a way that I'm financialy secure, so I demand better working conditions and challenge them with little fear of repercussions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sazzas · 20/09/2015 10:57

The BBC is running lots of stories on robots taking jobs, as they have for the last few decades.

To make workers feel fortunate to have a job. The more workers paying tax, then the more income the governbankment has to misappropriate.

The role of governbankments is to increase living costs and the amount of labour people have to do to survive.

The cost of shelter is the big one. If rent and house price rises were banned, workers would be wealthier after every pay rise. The extra disposable cash would mean they have to work less hours and could retire earlier.

OP posts:
margeys · 20/09/2015 11:33

Try working for some companies whose policy is to get rid of 10% of their staff every year. Then go around making demands that you are treated better than everyone else.
I am glad some of you have good working conditions, not everyone is so fortunate.

Ragwort · 20/09/2015 17:32

Gosh this does make me sad the rubbish working conditions that so many put up with!

Maybe you could show some empathy and understanding to the vast majority of employees who probably do not have the range of benefits that you have and certainly no option to question whether or not they are on call. For many people the only option to not 'putting up with poor working conditions' is to be out of work.

OurBlanche · 20/09/2015 17:51

Maybe if more people reminded their employers that the employer / employee relationship works both ways we, in the UK, would be able to regain a better work / life balance.

For many employers the 'replaceable skin' is a myth they would do well to recognise.

Alternatively, could you not be happy that at least one person doesn't have to put up with crappy working conditions? Or is that little green eyed monster wholly in charge here?

Doobigetta · 20/09/2015 17:59

I am totally flexible. I have a business mobile that my limited company pays for. The client I am contracted to is welcome to call me on it whenever they want, but if it's outside what I consider to be my working hours, it's buried at the bottom of my work handbag and the chances are I won't hear it. If anyone complains about this the next working day I am terribly apologetic, but these things happen when you aren't paid to be on call out of hours. They have asked for my personal number, but that's private and there is no reason for them to have it, so I said regretfully no.

Doobigetta · 20/09/2015 18:02

And as others have said, I get paid a lot, and I'm good at my job and well respected. Part of being good at my job is I am organised enough and effective enough at communicating that they can manage without me for a few hours or a few days. Employers will take the piss exactly as much as you let them, and will push to just beyond what you're comfortable with. It's up to you to set your boundaries, they won't do it for you. Or not in a way that works for you.

whois · 20/09/2015 18:19

If you need to be contactable OOO you need a work phone which can do emails.

If you work part time in a mainly I'll time industry it's pretty difficult to have a blanket 'I'm not available' policy. I think and email is less intrusive than phone call and its maybe fair to check your emails for 10 mins at lunch and if there is a mega catastrophe you can phone or email, and if not it can wait till tomorrow.

I'm with the OP that phone calls are stressful, I hate being called while I'm on holiday. Totally ruins the day for me.

Original poster
Sazzas · 20/09/2015 18:46

Some people do sound quite jealous.

Employees do have the power, it isn't a one way street but it is up to you to get better working conditions. It costs a fortune to recruit someone decent (specially in a professional role) so the employers are very aware that it isn't a one way street. Too many people allow themselves to be walked on these days.

OP posts:
margeys · 20/09/2015 18:52

Sazzas - So why do some companies have a policy of getting rid of 10% of their employees every year including those in professional roles?

What we need are stronger unions.

Original poster
Sazzas · 20/09/2015 18:56

To make employees scared, be thankful for a job and accept shit working conditions?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sazzas · 20/09/2015 18:57

What are these people doing to improve their working conditions?

OP posts:
JeanSeberg · 20/09/2015 19:02

OP - depends how much flexibility you need from your employer. If you never need a favour in return - early finish for dentist, time off for child-related appointments etc etc - then go ahead and stick to your rigidity.

margeys · 20/09/2015 19:04

Sazzas - What do you suggest they do? We don't all live in places where it is easy to find jobs.

TheBunnyOfDoom · 20/09/2015 19:07

Or, maybe people need a job and can't afford to risk being made redundant? Hmm

VenusRising · 20/09/2015 19:18

You had me kind of agreeing until "governbankments"
Will we hear about" sheeple" next?!! Wink

About your work, ask them to email you, and you choose when / if to read, answer.

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