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.

“Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins. ”

But is it? I went on my phone yesterday for "ten minutes" next time I looked at the time it was an hour and a half later!!

Difference being I was at home

My mind is telling me u r d manager & u re trying to get a fair assessment regarding how ur staff is feeling😁 probably best to spell out expectations & changes that need to happen generally and if at all they can use phone state when. That way u re considerate

OP your employer is good enough to trust you to work whilst having your phone at your desk, I need to leave mine in my locker, please don't take the piss. It's people like you who ruin things for everyone else by abusing the perks and trust your employers are giving you. If someone is constantly on their phone and the manager allows it other employees could start doing the same and the work would never get done, result bankruptcy and unemployment. Leave your phone in your bag, yes, if you're allowed, a quick look every now and then is acceptable, but your employment status relies on your manager believing you're a reliable and responsible employee and it sounds as if this might be in question.

4 times an hour for a few minutes...let's say that adds up to 15 minutes an hour.
That's 25% of your working time.
A quarter of the time you are being paid for you are playing on your phone.

K'ing hell Ghostpost, YABVU. Yes, we all do it to some extent, but do it discretely and occasionally. Occasionally, to spell it out means more like 4 times a bloody day. And stop as soon as you notice you are being observed. Because it sounds very much like that there are times when you've been so engrossed you haven't even noticed you're manager clocking you.
She's dropping massive hints that you are taking the piss, so take notice.

🙈 OP, please read your comments back to yourself and take a period of reflection on how you're coming across.

Irrespective of the phone use, I'm not feeling a good attitude. I look af Attitude/Skills/Knowledge.

Skills and Knowledge can be learned. If your attitude sucks, well that's on you. If you were in my team... you'd have been on 6mths probation and out the door.

I'm sure you're really smart so get the ego in check and respect your manager.

I think they have taken the manager in to deal with you. Don't use the CEO as a benchmark for how little work you need to do. The manager is complimenting your colleague in the hope you will get the hint

You're going to be on a disciplinary soon. Your card is being marked. Either point to the clause in your contract that says you can go on twitter and phones in work time, or put your phone away and get working, like you're being paid to do...

I have a sincere question. What age range is OP? I think that is an important fact to the answers.

Thing is OP, you don't know if she was brought in to crack down on that type of culture. Or possibly she just has a different management style and that's fine as well.

Your manager isn't happy with the amount of time you're on your phone for whatever reason. You need to cut down on it.

"I am feeling a bit picked on actually" don't be so Fucking ridiculous! That comment is INCREDIBLY offensive to those of us who've experienced REAL workplace bullying which this is ABSOLUTELY NOT!

You are being RIGHTLY pulled up for poor attitude AND behaviour in a job you haven't been in 5 mins!

"There is another team member who has the same title as me, but she’s much more experienced (more than NM) and is being given her own section to do projects. Every time the new manager (NM) talks to her, she says “I know your really busy with all your emails to catch up and other jobs”...being all nicey nice because she needs her for help." For the love of fuck! I'm willing to bet this other team member is AS WELL as being more experienced and so having a PROVEN work history in the field and with the company is more productive, more responsible, more WILLING To help (pretty sure you're a "that's not in my job description" type too)

You sound incredibly immature (yet from certain comments I suspect you're closer to my age - 40's), petulant, obstructive and have a HUGE chip on your shoulder about "bosses"

Given the current economic climate and certain other comments you've made I suspect you were "managed out" of your previous role for similar reasons as this seems to be a departure from your previous industry and I strongly suspect an unwilling one.

"The funny thing is, the other girl messes around and tea breaks her way through the day too." I strongly suspect she makes any of this time up elsewhere.

"I think I'm too entrenched in working environments where there is always something else to be done" I've never had a job where that isn't the case!

I've experienced the previous incumbent CLAIMING it to be the case when doing my "handover" on a few occasions inc one where the guy said "this jobs so dead I suggest you bring a book" I discovered after he left he'd basically only been doing half the job!

In all cases:

A they were managed out BUT this was back in the days when employees had more rights earlier on NOT like that now
B there WAS plenty to do in the job they just weren't bloody doing it
C that their colleagues HATED them because nobody likes having to carry someone else.

"If someone is lazy or lacking other colleagues will pretty much complain anout it anyway." I'm not so sure that hasn't happened here!

"Wonder what’s missing in your lives?!" For quite a few IT IS a job!! I'd love to be able to work, I'm sure some respondents are job seeking and RIGHTLY feeling pissed off at the idea that someone who clearly doesn't value or appreciate their job is preventing someone who WOULD from having it!

Others of us were/have been managers and very likely have come across "workers" like you - and sacked them! I certainly have! The most stunning response I got to one such sacking was "but I've got in on time ALL THIS WEEK" yes but that should be your normal! Not something you expect additional praise for! In her case it WAS a ludicrous amount of fag breaks (which she thought I hadn't noticed) AND passing the more difficult/energetic tasks to other staff CONSTANTLY (this was in residential care and she just plain Cba to care for any clients who needed lifting or lots of interaction etc), dodging certain tasks altogether (I twigged she NEVER dealt with dirty laundry - she considered it beneath her!)

But then I don't think that will be the case for much longer as manager seems on the ball!

But as I said before you need to be aware that if you're sacked "for cause" as Americans would say you won't be eligible to claim any benefits either for at least 13 weeks and as long as 3 years! And you'll not find it easy finding another job without good refs. Plus depending on the industry and how "chatty" people are in it or indeed location (I live in a rural/small town area and everyone knows everyone and stuff like this quickly gets about - hell I've seen stuff on local SM!)

Word can get about!

I can’t be bothered to read it all but I see you have been there less than 6 months. I hope for your employer’s sake you are on a probationary period and she can start managing you out. I would sack you.

It really seems she is gunning for you, but you are providing the bullets. If she wants you gone you are giving her all the ammunition she needs.

The ‘literally a few minutes’ thing made me think of the useage reports my phone sends me every week. I’m always so shocked to see that I’ve spent around two hours a day on my phone because it doesn’t seem like I’ve used it that much.
Maybe you should have a look at your useage and see if it really is ‘only a few minutes’, OP. I’d bet money it’s not.

The main thing that sticks out for me is that the manager has an issue with the amount of time you’re spending on your phone and is trying to subtly guide you away from it but you’re ignoring her or being petulant about it. You need to remember that she’s your manager and she has the authority to tell you to stop dicking about on your phone, which you should respect. It doesn’t matter what the previous manager was like as she’s not the manager now. I bet your contract doesn’t say anything about flexibility or entitlement to phone use, so I’d start paying attention if I were you.

Did you also say that when she disturbs your phone use it’s about work? That would suggest that there is work that needs doing, or work that needs improving, or work that needs changing, because otherwise she’d have nothing to bring up.

It seems as though you’ve just got used to this relaxed atmosphere and stopped realising that it’s a luxury, not a right, and that you’ve probably started taking the piss without realising.

"You'll give the manager time to settle in"

REALLY?? How kind!

Therein lies you problem, a major attitude issue.
Good luck!

Graphista I see your "I got in on time" and raise you "my last two jobs had no problem with phones"

Doesn't sound much on the face of it does it? Except that the two previous jobs were in exactly the same field as the current one, phones genuinely needed to be banned in them, and he'd already been sacked from both earlier ones for refusing to put the damn thing away

Sadly, there's a type who just won't be helped ...

Be careful OP. If you have that much time available to use your phone, the managers will think there is not enough work to go around. You may find yourself looking for another job - and the next employer might expect a full days work from you.

This is a joke right? Your new manager is bugging you with irrelevant things like work, when you are trying to check out Twitter. Are you kidding? I’m pretty sure that asking you about work when you’re at work is actually relevant, whereas checking Twitter at work is not relevant. Your work attitude is terrible.

I think the original post is a wind up!

Yeah, I’m really reading that essay..🙄

I’ve had so many office jobs where I’ve either had my own office or worked from home a lot. I’ve has many jobs with long periods of nothing to do.When nobody can see I spend time on my phone, watching Netflix at home. In a busy office I am more discreet and pretend to be busy.

I had one office job (civil service) where I was the only person in during summer leave with no work to do. Had to take in my phone charger to ensure my battery didn’t die.

When I’m in a school, I keep my phone in my bag and only get it out at break in the staffroom.

Yeah, I’m really reading that essay..🙄

Are the work experience kid? You sound like an irritating petulant 15 year old!

*I think a lot of these rude and spiteful comments about losing my job and being fired are out of jealousy. Horrible vile people.
*
OP, you started this thread because your Manager is interrupting you when you're checking Twitter and asking if you have enough work to do.

Surely you're smart enough to connect the dots here? Why do you think she's acting this way?

In my line of work I'm lucky if I get to wee when I need to! There's no such thing as down time. My brain needs to be on the go constantly.
I have never worked in an office so never experienced having regular breaks to help me be more productive, I can see how that would help though. We give the kids regular brain gym breaks to help them concentrate. However, I really do think someone checking their phone every 10-15 minutes :

1. Has an addiction to their phone.
2. Cant be doing their best at their job, with so many interruptions.
3. Is taking the piss out of their employer.

So this thread like British society falls into two groups:

1. sadly, the majority: wage slaves in an Amazon or Sports Direct warehouse, with spies to make sure you clock on at 8.59 not 9.01, spies to make sure your loo break is only five minutes and no more and you take no more than two loo breaks a day, judged on presenteeism and not on work done, it's fine if you look busy (even if you're doing nothing productive) but not OK to openly play Candy crush or check your email.

2. higher up the wage scale, you get more responsibility and more trust.

My boss earns six figures a year. Yet he'll only be in the office one day or maybe two a week, and not a set day of the week at that. He takes prospective clients to long lunches. He loves cricket, and if he's at home and you phone him when there's a Test match on, you'll hear Sky in the background. On the few days he might be in the office when there's a Test on, he'll be checking the score online every five minutes. And nobody gives a damn because he's shit hot at what he does. There are no spies making sure he clocks in - he gets the job done in his own way and he's worth what he's paid.

Once some of you get out of your present jobs you'll realise it's only minimum wage drones who operate in the presenteeism culture, jobs requiring brains give you space.

@Kazooboohoo don't be ridiculous there is a vast amount in between those two examples!