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.

Is it any coincidence that the only post in this thread that you think is reasonable is the one (out of many others) which seems to side with you? You obviously have no idea what everyone is talking about - ie the way to behave at work so are looking for any glimmer of support. Not much here, I'm afraid!

@Ghostpost

Some of us are business owners and employers. I'm not jealous because I don't have to answer to bosses now, I am the boss!

I've always had a great relationship with my staff, they are lovely, passionate and enthusiastic. I know they work hard too.

So I'm happy to give and take - if they need time off because their child is poorly or they have an appointment then I don't dock them time.

Likewise, they don't sit on social media for a few minutes four times an hour.

I don't think you don't realise how vulnerable a position you're in and how entitled you sound having worked somewhere for a few months where you're already on the radar of a manager.

But good luck.

I work in an environment very similar to yours. As long as my work is done, no one cares if I do it at home in front of Netflix or in the office while listening to music in my headphones and facebooking every now and then.

I think this will pass. Soon she will adapt to the culture of the office. She's obviously used to a very different work environment. Try not to make yourself her target though, keep your head down for a week or two.

Wow, you think shes in the wrong !! You are getting paid to work not socialise.

She is your manager, part off her job is to manage. Not understanding that is why she is a manager and you are not.

If you have only been there for a few months I would be putting your phone away and doing what you have been paid to do. Are you still in a probationary period, easiest thing in the world to tell you to sling your hook. They are clearly employing more people than they need if you are all spending so much time on your phones. She has probably been asked to go in and sort out the lax attitude that previous managers have left as a legacy.

I think a lot of these rude and spiteful comments about losing my job and being fired are out of jealousy. Horrible vile people.

If you were a mature adult you would realise that everyone is pointing out that you are completely in the wrong. Very few workplaces condone faffing around on social media during the day unless it is part of the job description.

Try to understand that most work places don't condone the amount of time you spend on your phone, and many don't allow the use of your phone at all during "on duty" hours.

I agree with other PP that someone where you work has clocked on that you waste a lot of time and has asked your new manager to "micromanage" you. and given that you are still in the 6 month probationary period you are in a very precarious position. Are you always this socially unaware?

You are being very childish and really need to grow up.

You’re lazy and she’s spotted it. Put your phone away and work.

We’re not allowed phones at work, and have to leave them in the office!

I agree with other PP that someone where you work has clocked on that you waste a lot of time and has asked your new manager to "micromanage" you. and given that you are still in the 6 month probationary period you are in a very precarious position.

I agree that's probably what's happening

I’ve noticed today she keeps coming and disturbing me every time I’m on my phone reading twitter or whatever.

This has to be a wind up, right?

You are being paid to work. So, erm, work. HTH.

OP, if you're that sure you're in the right why not take it up with the person who's bothering you?

So get off your phone and do your job. Certainly don't 'go to HR', unless you want to be laughed out of the building. I'm absolutely sure that your designated breaks are ample for 'checking Twitter' and such, unless (major drip feed) you're actually Kim Kardashian West...

Would it not make more sense to just blast through your work and go home early if you have this much free time?
That's what I do.

It´s interesting how those who say they work in a similar environment to the OP on this thread understand what is going on here. I think it is a case of different working cultures in different jobs. If your manager comes from a different working culture, she may take a little while to adapt.

OP, are you paid to work or are you paid to play on your phone? Work in work time, play in your own time.

Ah this reminds me of me in my youth. I was a lazy workshy arse who actually did produce good results but did the bare minimum and spent the rest of the time conducting many office liaisons on work email, having fag breaks and pissing about. I would have been most disgruntled about a manager questioning this. Can’t believe I wasn’t fired. I can produce a cracking research report in the shortest time frame if I’m left the fuck alone though and that’s probably why I got away with it - is that the same in your research department?!

This thread just shows you how laughable targets are. Sounds like they are far too low in lots of workplaces if everyone can go on Twitter and text their mates all the time.

Try working somewhere where you can work solidly for 8-9 hours working through lunch breaks and STILL not get through all the tasks. Education, health care, anywhere else which has suffered from massive cuts. Jobs that matter, because if you don’t get through as much as you can then a patient or child’s safety is at risk, or their educational progress impeded.

I am so angry at the people suggesting that hard workers are just slaves to work. If you were behaving as you do in my workplace, OP, you would be sacked, OP, and replaced by someone who can work hard. The kids we work for deserve that, not some phone-addicted slacker.

Try working somewhere where you can work solidly for 8-9 hours working through lunch breaks and STILL not get through all the tasks. Education, health care, anywhere else which has suffered from massive cuts. Jobs that matter, because if you don’t get through as much as you can then a patient or child’s safety is at risk, or their educational progress impeded

And do you think that’s a good situation? That you and others are so overworked or would you like that to change and have more of a balance? Just because public services are fucked it doesn’t mean we should all follow suit. We should try and change it

This thread just shows you how laughable targets are. Sounds like they are far too low in lots of workplaces if everyone can go on Twitter and text their mates all the time

They’re just different. What is a target in one place isn’t in another.

It doesn’t seem sensible to measure targets in one sector vs another.

**
Still only a few people who understand this work culture.

It's not about understanding the work culture.
It's about understanding that managers have different management styles. She clearly doesn't like the amount of time you spend on your phone. Disagree or not, it's not up to you to decide what's acceptable in your team. Managers usually have discretion over things like this.

The only thing for you to decide is if you want to stay in that department working for her. Different people suit different management styles and environments.
Maybe she will become relaxed, or maybe senior management saw in her interview something about her style they liked and want to see some changes. Who knows. But if you want to keep your job then there isn't much you can do about it except spend less time on your phone. Is it really that big a deal? 🤷🏼‍♀️

If you’ve got time to go on Twitter, look at your phone and post on mumsnet then you clearly don’t have enough work to do. Sounds to me that you do need micro managing. She’s probably annoyed about you taking the piss.

Don’t do an aibu thread and then call people horrible vile people for not agreeing or understanding your situation. Also don’t act as though you have some great work lifestyle and others should be jealous. It’s you that is actually coming across horrible.
You’ve asked our opinion and we’ve given it.

OP can I also add that you are sounding very childish. Blaming posters not understanding a culture you only joined 4 months ago yourself!

Hmm after only 4-5 months maybe the OP has misunderstood the work culture all along and it is not as flexible as she thinks.

Just be more low key with your phone. I check my phone sometimes at work but usually at lunchtime

So for every 8 hour shift you spend 2-3 hours on your phone. How do you think that’s acceptable?!

I'd expect this attitude from a very young first-jobber. DH has a young colleague like this but none of the "managers" (DH isn't one) have a clue how to deal with it. Your NM clearly does.

I do hope your salary doesn't come from public money.