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.

Maybe think if you got the sack can you afford to still live, if not put your phone away and save your lifestyle.

The internet may not have existed at one time, but it doesn't mean that people were then wonderfully productive and never slacked off. They just had to find more creative ways to do it.

I really don’t need to be disturbed every time I’m on my phone. This is not the culture of our workplace. Another colleague feels the same, even though I finished a whole project within a month by myself with no manager eyeing me. I am capable of working and using the phone aswell to give me a break. Don’t see why this is hard to believe. You should all go into academic research.

This has to be a reverse. Nobody could be this stupid.

Apparently lots can, there's loads of posts saying she's NBU

OP I think you have some bad habits. I am in a private office and I don’t check my phone as much as you.

I do like to go on my phone and I do -briefly whilst having morning and afternoon coffee (like now) and sometimes longer at lunch if I am eating on my own.

I would suggest you formalise your break time and take some of it way from your desk when possible and the. You can do as you like with it.

OP didn't say WHO gets the work done, bet it's not them
What a stupid comment.

Yep, have a frank conversation with your manager about your rights to surf the net on the company's time. I recommend that as a brilliant way to not only avoid progression but to actively get yourself on track to being shown the door. Good call!

You do know they can just let you go, as you have not been there that long.

I really don’t need to be disturbed every time I’m on my phone.

ahahaha You two should make a stand against this manager expecting you all not to skive!! Strike or something

I think the answers to this very much depend on what kind of job you have. I work in academia and this would not be considered odd. As long as the work gets done, no-one cares either what hours you are at your desk or how you spend them. Time on twitter is also part of work networking. I work evenings and weekends in periods when it is needed, so if I go home early one day or spend some time reading the newspapers when in my office, I don't expect anyone to monitor that (which no-one does). If they started counting the minutes I am working during the day in the office, the weekends and evenings I put in for the job would end pretty sharpish.

So regarding the OP, I think it depends on where she works whether or not she is unreasonable. It also depends what working culture the new manager is from.

There is a massive difference between putting on headphones to block out office noise and enable you to concentrate on a big project and checking/updating social media 4/5 times an hour.

I would expect people to look at social media or briefly browse the Internet now and again in their working day - we do it at my office and it’s not considered a problem. I’m a manager and I’m really relaxed about this sort of thing. I’m also relaxed about flexible working and accommodating family life - more so than most other managers where I work (we are supposed to make those decisions at our own discretion).

However ... “Literally a few minutes every 10/15 mins”? That is excessive! You’re effectively spending at least a quarter of your entire working day on your phone and I’m not surprised your manager is raising eyebrows at this. In total you are spending more than a whole day per week on your phone!

If all your colleagues are like you, and are also getting their work done with that much down-time in their day, your employer will soon realise how inefficient the office is if they’re paying full time wages for a part time job and will start making some of you redundant.

You should all go into academic research.

Yep sounds like we should

I really don’t need to be disturbed every time I’m on my phone.

how dare she! Does she know WHO I am?

I give you a tip, leave your phone alone, get promoted and become the manager and then no one will disturb you when you are playing on your phone.

DarlingNikita
right back at you my dear!

My work is reactive, I need to answer the phone and also make calls. If there is none of that to do, there is no work to do, we can't make work so yes I mess on my phone and sometimes even read a book

I am a manager and have someone in my team who is on her phone a lot. Every time I see it I make sure I assign more work her way!

You're an adult so you should know you need to speak to your manager if you feel her treatment of you is unreasonable. Not posting here.

The internet may not have existed at one time, but it doesn't mean that people were then wonderfully productive and never slacked off. They just had to find more creative ways to do it.

I'd be very surprised if there was anything that consistently ate up anything approaching the amount of work time (or indeed time full stop) that phones do though. Phones are addictive - people reach for them all the time, not just when they genuinely need a break. Anyone who thinks this isn't a major problem is kidding themselves.

I would not employ you.
this attitude shews a fundamental lack of respect, not only for the employer organisation but for oneself as an employee.
whatever has been the norm previously, you should have the grace and common courtesy, and indeed self-interest, to conform yourself to the reasonable expectations of your new manager.
actually, I think she has been very restrained in her approach.
maybe she is giving you a chance to amend your behaviour and comport yourself in a more business-like manner, before having stern words, or even a warning.
How much real attention can you be giving to your work tasks if your concentration is so frequently interrupted by gazing at trivia.
Better to really get stuck in for an hour or so, and then take a brisk walk to the street and back for exercise, stretch eyes, and return refreshed, even offer to make/fetch tea for others.
How about you try, just as an experiment, to restrict your leisure activities to breaks/lunch time, and see what it's like.
Have you considered you might be addicted to looking at rubbish, frittering away your and your employer's time.
Why not try to give of your best, you might actually enjoy it.

OK, so address it with her then, OP.

Tell her to stop interrupting you when you're on Twitter and Mumsnet.

What's the problem here?

I’ve never had an office job, Never fancied it...till now. Op, any vacancies?

You’re unbelievable!

But sarcasm aside, I wonder ifthere have been studies done on productivity in a laid back culture vs in a draconian culture.
Personally ( like the op) I work better when I’m trusted, given some breathing space and the end result s all that is critiqued - which is why I work for my self.

Oh wow, I can't believe this is genuine.

I'm a manager and my rule is also that everyone can go on their phones if they need to as long as the work gets done. However, if they were picking up their phone every 10-15 minutes for a few minutes at a time when, that isn't what they are being paid for, I would have a serious issue with it and I would be saying something and possibly revoking the privilege if it continued.

When I first read your OP I was perplexed yet, understanding as I thought you meant occasional use but, reading the update saying it is every few minutes every 10-15, I nearly fell off my chair. How do you actually get shit done?

I go on my phone whenever I need to. If I get a message or a phone call I answer it there and then. If I think of something that I need to tell someone or if I need to make a personal call, I'll do it in work time. I scroll through SM when I am eating but, would never do it mid task. That's just bizarre?

IMO, your manager is totally in the right. Whether it is your workplaces usual 'vibe' or not, you're not being paid for mindless scrolling and regardless of whether she started before or after you, she is your manager.

Like a PP has said, if you genuinely believe this is against the policy of your workplace then, complain to another manager or the business owner/director. If this new manager is going against their wishes then, they should be made aware.

Alternatively, it appears she is offering you other things to do to fill your SM time. Seems that there is indeed more work to be done, despite your thoughts on being up to date at all times. Maybe you should take her up on that.