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.

jesus christ!! why are managers interrupting phone time? the audacity....they will be expecting some work done before you know it

why don't you go to HR and see where you stand contract wise op....

you could put in a grievance because your phone time is being disturbed

LOL @Kazooboohoo - and the OP definitely does not fall into group 2.

@Kazooboohoo

You can't just decide you want the higher status jobs with salary and benefits.

You have to put in the effort, have a good attitude and make a good impression in order to get to those higher paying jobs...

I worked my arse off and now I own the business and have employed people to work for me. They work really well and therefore I'm happy to be flexible and reasonable. It's give and take, nobody owes you a living.

Also nobody said she should just look busy, they just said she should be working in working hours without spending 1-2 hours a day doing sod all. That attitude really isn't going to get her into group 2 from your post!

@Kazooboohoo

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.

That'll be because he made the effort to gain his position as boss.

He didn't just walk in and say I want six figures and all the benefits of being a boss.

He is worth what he's paid, he's earned it and presumably has the experience and skills to warrant his position.

Okay, you may be meeting your objectives by carrying on doing what you are doing. But imagine how much EXTRA work you could be doing, picking up new projects if you spent less time on your phone??

Ever heard of ‘exceeding expectations’?

Just because you get a list of xyz to do doesn’t mean if you get all that done, you can stare at your phone for the rest of the day. I guess that’s why your new manager keeps asking if you have enough work to keep you busy?!?

Wow. People telling the OP how 'little power' she has AS IF THAT IS OKAY?????

What the actual, ever living FUCK.

This is a HUMAN. Not a robot. A human, who should, at all time, be afforded respect, agency and rights.

HOW DARE you mock and belittle someone by telling them they are powerless? How fucking dare you? This is why shareholders get rich and workers get shat on from a height. How dare you absolute bellends say that this is okay, normal, even good??? What is wrong with you?

Yes, if you are not holding up your end of a contract, you should look to remedy that. If the OP does, in fact, get put into some kind of performance management whatever the fuck, then she will probably want to reevaluate and possibly toe the line.

But to throw in a persons face that they have no power in their working life is disgusting. To do in a gloating 'and that's how it should be, now know your place little worker drone' fashion is despicable.

And as for 'we should try to exceed expectations' or 'well, you'll be first out of you don't go the extra mile'? And that's OKAY?? Really? So you have to beg for crumbs from the almighty table of your employer and hope and pray that you have competed and striven and exceeded and taken on more and more enough to not get fired. Fuck me, I'm moving to an island. A long way away from this shitty attitude to others.

There are plenty of jobs where you have to spend a certain amount of time waiting around - for another department to send over the stuff for you to do your bit, for a client to arrive/phone/email you.

Efficient managers organise things so that that waiting time is used productively on something else - possibly another project, possibly contacting potential new clients, possibly another line of research, possibly proofreading or similar, etc etc. I suspect that that is what this manager is, rightly, aiming to do.

HereBeFuckery, seriously, calm down. It's strangers on the internet. I hate to think what you're doing to your blood pressure.

Who wants to pick up extra work for no more money.

In previous roles with nothing to do I asked for more work. I was given shredding / archiving to do. That took up a couple of days then I was back to nothing to do.

In another role (corporate banking) I had nothing to do so asked a colleague if I could help her. HER manager came over and told me to focus on my own work and not steal work from my colleagues! I spent the remainder of my time in that job on the Internet.

I’m currently temping in an office role. I’m covering for somebody who is covering for somebody else off on long term sick. Pretty sure there is no need for me to be there but of course the staff want to prove the role is needed! They spend most of their day online shopping and playing on their phones. But claim to be really busy.

I regularly ask for work but I also don’t want to be annoying. So a lot of the time I just sit there doing private studying online at my desk. Not up to me to say anything, I’m just a temp after all. It’s a cushy number with nice people and pays well.

Almost all the office jobs I have had have been bullshit jobs. I get the work done, smile nicely at people and act pleasantly and get good appraisals. For doing very little.

Who wants to pick up extra work for no more money

People who want to keep their jobs?

Tonnerre -

Can you explain how I’ve managed to keep my jobs then and get good appraisals?

I care remarkably little about work but make sure I play the game.

After all...it’s just a job. You’re a long time dead.

It’s not about going to extra mile to prevent you from being fired.... Simply that the manager clearly thinks OP could be doing more. Yet the OP thinks that the manager needs to change her expectations in the workplace.

Work culture is created by managers and this one obviously thinks things need to change.

How is spending so much time doing non work related activities acceptable? OP should use that extra time to be productive, not for fear of being fired, just to be a valued member of the team!!

I enjoy putting my phone away at work, It’s in my handbag and in a locker. If I wanted to check my phone for a message etc that wouldn’t be frowned upon.
I went out the other night with my daughter and left my phone at home, it’s great to get away from technology, there is a time and a place

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

"Sadly, there's a type who just won't be helped ..." It stuns me they get jobs when it is VERY much an employers market - an employers world in U.K. Right now!

"Yeah, I’m really reading that essay" guessing that refers to my post! If you're too lazy to read a long post on SM I'm amazed you function at all!

Want a TLDR?

GET A CLUE! stop taking the piss, do your job with a MUCH better attitude or HIGHLY risk losing this job AND not being able to claim benefits while you desperately try to find another job with potentially a bad ref! (Which btw is NOT illegal if truthful, the main reason employers don't give bad refs is to rid themselves of bad workers! But if you're already gone they don't care) or bad reputation.

But then the comment reminds me of another poster who had a similar chip on shoulder so I'm wondering if same poster. They were also petulant and a frequent flouncer

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

I've had jobs where getting a break was virtually impossible, ones where I literally had to clock off and on to take a pee, and others where things were more flexible/relaxed but NEVER so relaxed you could pisstake like this!

Graphista - not getting a break and clocking off and on to use a lavatory is hardly a workplace to look up to and admire. Not somewhere that I would work anyway.

So you completed one project within a month?!? I wish I had that luxury.

@Tonnerre thanks for your concern/snide comment. My bp is fine. My hatred of the sheep-like baa-ing on this thread is not going to subside because you're doing a Michael Winner impression.

And as for 'people who don't want to lose their jobs' have to take on extra (let's be clear: UNPAID work - in excess of the agreed role or out of hours) so now just to keep our jobs we have to constantly and endlessly take on more and more and more and more and more? Nope. I'm out. Bullshit of the highest order.

I used to work in one of these sorts of companies. The flexibility was awesome and culture far better than most workplaces. The downside was some staff stretched it too far so everyone lost as the company started monitoring internet, restricting time flexibility and introduced minimum work benchmarks.

In the end, it's not unreasonable, or unusual, for your supervisor to require you to work during work hours and ask you to keep personal things to breaks.

I do understand the shock of having your freedoms restricted can make it feel unfair. As long as you're not being bullied or put under unreasonable pressure, you can either accept it or move on.

I have an employee like this, always on their phone, last in and first to leave. They also have an excuse for everything. They will be getting replaced very soon.

I don't think a cup of tea is a problem, as long as it's not detracting from work. I had 3 or 4 cups of tea today, but each time, I made it then went out to do some work while it cooled, then drank it once cool enough. So I still got lots done. I don't take a formal tea break, i just drink as i work.

Use your phone at lunch breaks or for emergencies only - then she can’t treat you like a child. Simples!

Christ . I'd hate to work where some of you people work .

I can use my phone , tweet , do whatever I need to do in company time as long as I get my work done .

LOL today I went and got my colour done at the hairdressers ,my boss encouraged me to . Had laptop out , was working and achieved everything I needed too 🤣🤗🙄

Ghostpost, I'm not jealous. I work in a similarly flexible environment. I get in late every Wednesday so I can ride my horse before work, without having to get up at sparrows fart. We have a standard 7.25 hr day. Any time worked over that is time off in lieu. Phones, personal internet use, reading news, coffee breaks (offsite at cafes) are all acceptable. And I'm still saying you're way out of line.

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

She’s less than 2 years so even if outside of probationary period OP has minimal employment rights

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

OP isn’t just giving her manager the bullets but also the gun...