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 guess your manager is not from a workplace culture where people spend more time doing non work related stuff than work related. She may need to see and understand that you do have enough work to do and that you are being productive. You may need to prove this / yourself to her. However spending lots of time online doing non work related things at work is not the norm and most place/managers would be keeping an eye on staff who are always on their phones.

I think you may need to adapt here. And check your email/Facebook / Twitter in your lunch break.

My industry is the same op, it's very relaxed and you can pretty much do what you like within reason so long as the work is done when it's supposed to be.

If she carries on, work to rule.

You're clearly surplus to requirements if you're able to be on your phone, I'd get rid of you pronto!

This has got to be a reverse. Do you understand the definition of micromanaging? What you're describing isn't micromanaging. She is your manager and has every right to pull you up on your phone use, no matter what the environment is otherwise like, though she should be more upfront. I work in a very similar relaxed environment but it sounds like you're taking the piss, writing an MN post is more than just checking your phone quickly or listening to music as you work.

Crikey its Crazy in here! I do all sorts on the internet whilst at work. on the WORK LAPTOP also no less. its accepted here as long as your work is done...!!! This would also annoy me OP!

I think listening to music while you work is rather different to being on twitter.

You can still work whilst listening to music.

This has got to be a reverse.

it might be, but sadly I've met enough people in the real world with exactly that attitude.

I bet OP's work level is nowhere near as high as they make up it is. There's always one who tries to take the piss and ruins it for everybody else... I have seen people getting sacked from the most relax environment you could ever imagine. Idiots.

So what if you aren't working flat out all the time? As long as you get your work done on time, that's the main thing.

Not all workplaces are the same. I can use social media or play candy crush or check my phone at work and it's absolutely fine

Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins.

But it’s not that type of environment. It’s normal for everyone to check phones etc. Even the previous manager (who’s moved up and is new managers manager) blatantly told me not to worry about rigid times, and rules, as long as work is being done no one cares. And work is definitely being done.

Oh well. Seems like I A B U. 🤣

OP, for some reason these threads tend to bring out the most ridiculous pro-employer responses I've ever seen.

I know, right - employers wanting staff to work in work time. Whatever next?

People like her are why Britain has a terrible culture of presenteeism and low productivity. My former team leader was like this. She contributed so little to my project and I actually left because I couldn't see a future with her in charge. But she always looked like she was busy. I liked to work in high energy bursts with regular breaks and contributed a lot. She always focussed on the 5 minutes on twitter rsthrr

(thank you phone) She always focussed on the 5 minutes on twitter rather than the work produced.

She’s making me feel like a school child not being allowed on my phone.

Different workplaces have different rules and cultures, but it's by no means unusual to be expected to stay off your personal mobile during working hours - it's not something that only applies to school children.

Perhaps you could ask for a meeting with the new manager to clarify what her expectations are - that would be the adult way to resolve this.

Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins

You honestly think that's reasonable? That's in effect about 1/4 of your working day??

Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins.

You are having a fucking laugh!! A few minutes around 6 times an hour.

Actually cross posting with you and seeing you're on your phone every 15 minutes maybe you are being unreasonable

If Employee A meets their targets by going flat-out, never takes a break, constantly busy and never procrastinates, and Employee B meets their targets despite taking frequent breaks, half an eye on Twitter, skips out 5 minutes early... Employee B is the better worker.

A few minutes every 10-15 mins! That's hilarious. 2 mins every 15 is 13% of work time. Offer to have your salary reduced by 13%.

No? Thought not.

Just be discreet about it. I work in a chilled out place and we can listen to music etc but if someone was obviously just sitting there scrolling through Twitter then it would definitely get raised eyebrows. I can't believe this is a serious post. It's when people start taking the piss like this that you will find they decide to bring in a 'no phone' rule and you'll have no one to blame but yourself.

I get you OP and think YANBU.

We operate on getting stuff done Vs presenteeism. It's quite normal to check your emails, to check the news etc at random points throughout the day. It's also quite normal to have no lunch and to work longer hours when needed. If you don't have a rigid break structure (which many posters seem to assume), lots of mini breaks are fine.

There can be a point when you are taking the pee but I find if I trust people, they don't. We are all well paid professionals. You know if you are taking the p or not.

I think it depends on the type of work you are doing. After an hour of reading complicated fiscal legislation I would need 5-10 minutes of something mind numbing like twitter or candycrush. And in fact that 10 minutes was usually when I'd have the good idea as my brain finally got the breathing space to make connections.

However, a few minutes every 10/15 mins is taking the proverbial in my book.

Employee B meets their targets despite taking frequent breaks, half an eye on Twitter, skips out 5 minutes early... Employee B is the better worker.

only if Employee B decides to get their ass in gear and exceed their target, which are a minimum to reach.

See, it's all about attitude.

After an hour of reading complicated fiscal legislation I would need 5-10 minutes of something mind numbing like twitter or candycrush.

I would tell you to get off your chair and get a drink or better some fresh air instead of staying in front of your screen...

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

So about a fifth of your working day then 🙄
Stop being spoilt and entitled and do some work, the world doesn’t owe you a living