New manager keeps disturbing me with irrelevant things every time I’m on my phone :/

[Ghostpost]

I was employed before her, and have been here a couple of months. We’re in a research type environement and everything is really laid back with phones, work hours, days off etc. Everyone knows work gets done, deadlines are met so everyone is happy that the place is so flexible around family life.

She’s been here 3 days and has mentioned twice if I have enough work to keep me busy (😒).. I’m an adult and I know what I need to do. And although it would be really easy to take the piss here, I have been working incredibly hard to make a difference to our department.

I’ve noticed today she keeps coming and disturbing me every time I’m on my phone reading twitter or whatever. She’s making me feel like a school child not being allowed on my phone. She’s looked over at me a few times already whilst I’m typing this.

If I wasn’t working she would have a point to make, but I refuse to be micromanaged like this, as I’m not a child. It’s making me uncomfortable.

I joined her on her tea break again. 5th of the day. Must be a record. I’ve never drank this much tea in my life. I’ll be weeing all night.

I want OP’s job and to be paid spending a chunk of the day doing sweet FA!!!!

Is this a reverse?

Anyone AS’d the OP?

PMSL at poster advising OP to ‘work to rule’

Work to rule would mean OP substantially upping her working hours and, you know, working throughout her working hours

I always reverse it. Either they expect me to work non stop from 9-5 without a break, and I'll do that OR they're fine with little breaks reading news, facebooking and I will be happy to work a bit longer, check emails at the weekend et cetera. Same with when they wanted us to log our hours that we worked exactly, turns out that we made much more overtime than they previously thought when they needed to pay out..

My last manager made a remark when I was texting, I then showed her the text, it was about work in the work whatsapp group and I explained that we actually texted each other a lot during working hours because it was practical (think secretary texting doctor about last minute planning changes or an emergency visit that needed to be done). I loved seeing her pissed off face that being on our phones was our normal being productive stuff.

I don't think managers really need to check so much. If someone is lazy or lacking other colleagues will pretty much complain anout it anyway.

She’s looked over at me a few times already whilst I’m typing this.
Outrageous!
There you are, happily indulging in a little personal social media time, & your boss, who represent the company who is paying you to be there, interrupts you!

If I wasn’t working she would have a point to make, but I refuse to be micromanaged like this, as I’m not a child.
But you're not working, you're chatting to us. On company time.
OK "refuse", & see where you claim about being micromanaged gets you. Probably a verbal warning.

It’s making me uncomfortable.
Being so firmly in the wrong often does.

Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins.

Oh, get away with you!
So you are fecking about on your personal phone for 25% - 50% of the time.
You're either having us on, or need serious intervention about your screen addiction.

PMSL at poster advising OP to ‘work to rule’ *

Work to rule would mean OP substantially upping her working hours and, you know, working throughout her working hours*

^^this!

I don't think managers really need to check so much. If someone is lazy or lacking other colleagues will pretty much complain anout it anyway.

Yes and they probably already have - hence the hints to op to stop being on her phone so much.

I predicated you’ll be called into a meeting about productivity any time now op...

the good news is that's it is easy to get rid of someone if they have only been in a job for 4 or 5 months. Bet the colleagues can't wait.

Actually I take it back ...I think you should show the super relaxed ceo this thread 😂😂😂

Yes and they probably already have - hence the hints to op to stop being on her phone so much.

You have a point there.

Also Wonder if she expects me to send her a list of stuff I’ve done each day.

I imagine that may well be coming as part of your improvement plan (if they don’t just dismiss you). Genuinely I don’t think you’re very aware of how little power you wield here.

When I first read the OP I thought she meant she looked at her phone for a total of 10-15 minutes per day

I agree with @Scentsandsensible

Genuinely I don’t think you’re very aware of how little power you wield here.

I believe they can just let you go before two years anyway?

You seem overly comfortable considering you're relatively new and your new managed clearly has an issue (quite rightly) with you brazenly using work time for non work activity.

Yes there's give and take if you stay late etc regularly but your attitude is so entitled and tbh quite immature.

If you know your manager has a problem with something your doing, you need to be adult enough to either recognise that and modify your behaviour OR alternatively address it with them in a professional conversation OR accept the consequences may be you getting a formal warning or worse.

You don't hold the cards in this situation but sound like you think you do.

They can just let you go at this stage, so it's up to you really if your social media scrolling is worth you potentially losing your job.

*your new manager

@ThatCurlyGirl yep under two years it’s incredibly easy t get rid of someone. The only positive here really is that the new manager sounds like she’s trying to give OP a chance to mend her ways. Sadly seems like it’s not being taken

These days, many jobs in academic research environments, especially at the more junior levels, are fixed-term in any case. So the OP, if in one of these posts, will be let go at a certain point whatever she does or doesn't do. I can see how this would make people feel less committed to the post; but it is still worth taking the manager seriously, because she may be important in providing references and/or introductions and advice for other jobs in the future.

I used to manage my own time, schedule my own meetings etc except with directors, I got told those ones. Worked in the office hotdesk, but mainly from home, so I could Netflix, check my phone, social media etc. But I never did. Why not? Because I was too busy bloody working! And if I had done everything I needed, I would email my colleagues and ask if they needed anything done- there was always someone that said yes please I’m drowning. But then that’s what makes a good team, and the best department in the whole organisation for years and years.

Get off your phone, in some jobs going on your phone on work hours is a sacking offence.

Interrupting you when you're not doing anything urgent nor relevant to what you're paid for? Sounds fine. I think you're on pretty thin ice faffing about on sm in work downtime. Couldn't you read up for professional development or do a stationery audit or

You're lucky you have a job. I was made redundant after 20 years and have lost my home due to employers not wanting to employ people with disabilities in their mid 40s. Get off your phone and get on with your work. You should expect no sympathy.

Also “I can choose to work from whenever I want once or twice a week. If I’m ill and not up to leaving the house, I just work from home

You been there a couple of months and have “chosen to work from home because you’re ill” more than once!

"I’ve noticed today she keeps coming and disturbing me every time I’m on my phone reading twitter or whatever" .... hm, get the message then!!

I think there might be a job vacancy in your office soon... 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂