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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I was told off by a work colleague

454 replies

selepele · 02/11/2018 20:28

i have been at my current job since June, the person concerned has been there longer than me. He is the accounts guy, not my manager and I do not need to answer to him at all.

He works downstairs and me upstairs but you can see my desk if you walk round the corner from downstairs as I'm at the top of the stairs.

I work as admin so people sometimes ask me to type up stuff for them ect, which is no issues. I was hired to do the project manager and ICT persons admin.

so this particular person I have never had issues with and had a good relationship with until today.

He ask me to type up some stuff and I ask when does he need it by which he says "its not urgent, like 2-3 days I don't need it today" he gave me this work around 3pm

so everyone has left the office and it is just me and him (we are a small team of around 8) he walks pass the stairs (at the bottom of the stairs) once and sees me on my phone, he then does it again to go loo then when he is back turns around and says to me...

"I will appreciate if you do what I told you to do and not play on your phone"
I said I am doing it which he said "no youre not" and I said you told me it wasn't urgent which he said "that's not the point you don't just sit there on your phone"

I was very shocked by his attitude, as stated he is NOT my manager or of any authority to me.

He didn't even come upstairs to see if I had done anything since giving it to me so I made a point to finish it all and put it on his desk before the end of the day at 5pm.

I then left and I did slam the door and ignore him when he said bye to me.

do you think I am wrong at all?

He asked me to type up some stuff for him, which was fine

OP posts:
Original poster
selepele · 02/11/2018 21:07

I wasn't still on my phone the two times he walked pass, I was having a WhatsApp convo he happened to walk pass when I replied

OP posts:
JosellaPlayton · 02/11/2018 21:09

Slamming doors, silent treatment, no more ‘banter’... every sympathy as this guy sounds like a tool but seriously are you 16?!

Valasca · 02/11/2018 21:12

Maybe he asked you to do work because your managers have seen you on your phone and realised you don’t have enough work to do and told other senior staff to take any admin work to you.

I really REALLY wouldn’t equate your phone usage to a manager or a CEO of the company doing the same thing. When you clock off, they’re often still working. And aren’t getting paid overtime. You don’t bring admin work home with you and do it in the evenings and weekends.

Just because they don’t say something doesn’t mean they’re ok with it.

Monstersunderthebed · 02/11/2018 21:14

Do you think it’s okay for you to be on what’s app at work? That is not acceptable and if any of my staff were on their phones during work time what’s app messaging they would be told it was not acceptable especially if there was work to be done. I think it is a real problem with people in the workplace

WitchesHatRim · 02/11/2018 21:14

I wasn't still on my phone the two times he walked pass, I was having a WhatsApp convo he happened to walk pass when I replied

That is you being on your phone though Confused

Chuggachuggatoottoot · 02/11/2018 21:15

sluj how patronising

Original poster
selepele · 02/11/2018 21:17

they don't bring work home either and do it.

And I compared myself to the lady who had my job before (ICT Lady who wasnt originally my manager but I see her as my go to) and another who has my job but works there two days a week.

I respect everyone's opinion on this but you need to stop comparing it to your work place, the place is not somewhere were you have to glue your eyes to the screen.
I could wear jeans if I wanted too and can go out to the shop when I want. It is very relaxed and I have never had piles of work so I like to work slowly because of this.

OP posts:
shrunkenhead · 02/11/2018 21:17

I think his issue is with you being on your phone in work time. In most work places phone use is restricted to break times or your lunch hour. It just doesn't look professional.

HellenaHandbasket · 02/11/2018 21:19

Blimey, I've never worked in an office that had a problem with people using their phone. We're adults! Assuming your office is the same, he sounds like an officious arse.

SillySallySingsSongs · 02/11/2018 21:20

It is very relaxed and I have never had piles of work so I like to work slowly because of this.

If there isn't enough work for you I can't see your position being sustainable.

cherish123 · 02/11/2018 21:21

None of his business if you were on your phone. You could have been checking a work email. While it probably is unprofessional to have a mobile on your desk at work, it really has nothing to do with him. I would not report him to a manager. This is a bit childish. I would speak to him assertively and say that you don't like being spoken to like that - not v professional, you were doing his work (although not in your job description) and you are not accountable to him.

Weathermonger · 02/11/2018 21:21

I don't understand why it's a big deal to check your phone, or send a quick message at work. Before cell phones, I certainly made and took personal calls throughout the day on the office land line. Not excessively so obviously, but I'd usually check in with my husband, or make a quick call to my sister. Really what's the difference ?

shrunkenhead · 02/11/2018 21:22

I agree with Monstersunderthebed. Turn your phone off, put it in your bag or locker and check it in your break/lunch time.
Phones are the biggest time wasting device in the workplace today.

limitedperiodonly · 02/11/2018 21:26

OP you will get some weird responses because some MNers live in an alternate universe

Agree with everything onceandnever has said and needsanewname.

My workplace is crazy-busy sometimes but we still have quiet moments to check phones and do things like Mumsnet. I imagine some people do even more shocking things.

My personal quest atm is to look for a rescue cat. When I've looked at orphan cats I contribute to Facebook. The man who sits next to me has been doing extensive research on his family tree for months and also likes to look at nice places to take contacts for lunch. This is acceptable because my colleagues and I work hard when required, don't take the piss and our boss is nice.

The bloke in accounts sounds like a twat. If he is not in charge of you I wouldn't give it a second thought. Do not explain or complain on Monday. Do not offer to do his typing again. We're long past the days when it was only women who could operate a keyboard. He has fingers - let him pull them out of his arse.

If by chance you do have to do his typing, I'd suggest relegating his stuff to the bottom of the pile and saying that more urgent requests kept trumping his.

Faultymain5 · 02/11/2018 21:26

@shrunkhead In most work places phone use is restricted to break times or your lunch hour.

Unless you've worked in most places, you cannot make that statement and it be true. I've worked many places before I settled down and no, there hasn't been a problem with my using my phone. I've been working since 1994.

Faultymain5 · 02/11/2018 21:29

Oh and I'm admin and am working at the moment. and making time for mumsnet. Since I went out with our finance team for lunch and drinks today, I figured I need to make up my time.

I do this because I'm a conscientious worker and the work needs to be done. Seems like an adult way to behave.

Goldenbear · 02/11/2018 21:30

He shouldn't have spoken to you in that way. Does anybody do his admin or would he normally have to do it himself? If, as you say, you don't have lots on I'm wondering if it's case other senior managers suggesting to take the work to you in a casual way?

SlipperyNettle · 02/11/2018 21:30

Uh oh, I was hoping when you said i did slam the door that you had made a typo and meant i didn’t slam the door. I cannot believe you behaved that way at work, to a colleague, however much he irritated you!

If I got wind of this as your manager I’d be clarifying with you whether or not you’re to take other work on (sounds find to me, you’re admin and your role is to assist the staff: if you don’t have enough work to do you should be taking on additional tasks), but I’d be having a very serious word about your conduct and how it’s absolutely not okay to slam doors in the workplace or deliberately ignore a coworker. Having been there since June you’d better hope this guy doesn’t chat to your manager about your attitude.

Temporary2016 · 02/11/2018 21:31

You do admin?

As in, typing/letters/spell checking stuff etc?

INoahGuy · 02/11/2018 21:32

All these people saying that using your mobile in the workplace is taboo, where do you work? Confused

SlipperyNettle · 02/11/2018 21:33

I will add, reasonable workplaces that treat their employees like adults don’t have an issue with intermittent low phone usage as long as the work gets done. Any time I’ve been in a workplace where phones have been banned or had specific limits imposed it’s been places with low skills and high turnover where the staff were treated like children (unlsss there’s a justifiable reason such as safety, for example working in a prison!). I wouldn’t remain in a job very long if my manager had anything to say about me using my phone while cranking out the work and achieving targets.

Glossymare · 02/11/2018 21:33

How old are you op??

SlipperyNettle · 02/11/2018 21:35

Do you write letters and other correspondence as part of your role?

Are you young? I don’t mean to sound nasty but your posts are littered with errors. That’s not unusual on a forum, but it is unlikely for someone whose job it is to perform written work.

echt · 02/11/2018 21:36

OP, clarify who you do work for on Monday, and also phone use. You say you know the man wouldn't talk to the ICT lady as he did to you.No you don't. Avoid imagining scenarios and deal with what actually happened.

For those saying she shouldn't type for him, the OP has made it clear that she does typing for others, so not doing it for him would be out of order; she need clarification.

The man sounds arsey, but the OP was unprofessional to slam the door and ignore him.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 02/11/2018 21:37

He sounds like a prick but then I can't believe you slammed the door. Are you both very young?!