Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really annoyed when my work contact me on a day off??

44 replies

Sunflowers2811 · 09/10/2019 11:55

It's my only day off this week and I get contacted about swapping a shift. I absolutely hate it when they do this!! I don't think that your work should contact you on your day off unless it is an emergency but AIBU? I was in such a good mood this morning and now I just feel guilty that I can't change my shift (already have plans and would mean day and night shifts in the same week) and its really brought my mood down!

OP posts:
slingthegin · 09/10/2019 12:03

Do you work in the NHS? If so then your contract normally has a phrase about your being flexible to meet the needs of the service. This is what that flexibility increasingly looks like in practice ime.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 09/10/2019 12:04

Can you avoid answering whilst off?

I work on my days off atm because no sod to cover me....actually last "day off" I claimed back as I sent c. 60 emails.

peachesandclean · 09/10/2019 12:05

I've had the same I feel your irritation

Yesterday and today were my two days off, I was asked to work yesterday so I did, and I woke up today to missed calls from my manager asking me to come in today and it annoyed me

Now all day I'm going to feel guilty for not doing the shift and you're right, it has kind of ruined my day

Platina · 09/10/2019 12:07

I just don't answer the phone on days off

adaline · 09/10/2019 12:07

I see both sides really.

Yes, days off should be that - and it is frustrating when you're contacted on your day off and you have to start thinking about work.

But sometimes it's necessary. You can't always wait until a staff member is in to discuss a shift swap as then it's too late. I always try and give my staff as much notice as possible and avoid ringing them as much as possible but sometimes I don't have much choice.

I would never ring someone who was off on annual leave though. That's different and should be sacred!

managedmis · 09/10/2019 12:08

YANBU

They undervalue your time off

covetingthepreciousthings · 09/10/2019 12:09

Do you work in retail? I've always found it very common to be contacted on days off, especially about shift swapping. (Not saying it's Ok, just common).

Honeybee85 · 09/10/2019 12:10

Do you have a company phone? If you are not obligated to answer it during your days off, just switch it off.

If your work is calling you or texting you on your personal phone, I would just not reply to their messages and block their calls or have a word with them about it.

An old collegue of mine used to text or call me all the time in my free time about work related minor stuff and I was highly annoyed by it.
You have a day off because you need time AWAY from work, YANBU

Transpeaked · 09/10/2019 12:13

Yup. I once had an ex manager yell at me down the phone because I hadn’t been home and they’d needed me in work. When I answered that I’d been out, she told me I should be near my phone on my days off in case they needed me.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/10/2019 12:13

I don't mind it occasionally. But I had annual leave last week, and got asked 3 times if I wanted overtime. And have already been asked if I can swap a shift this weekend. (annual leave again)

zzzzzzzz12345 · 09/10/2019 12:15

I second not answering your phone. Especially if you’re in the NHS you need your rest and shouldn’t be working when not paid. Don’t answer phone and respond in person when next in. It will become a habit. They will learn not to do it. You don’t have to say you are doing this, just say ‘Oh I didn’t vheck my messages til this morning’. Every single time. Unless you are extremely senior, this is perfectly acceptable practice.

Nonnymum · 09/10/2019 12:15

YANBU they shouldn't contact you on your day off. Is there anyway you could ignore messages from work, be too busy to answer or respond? Before the days of mobile phones people were not constantly contactable and employers managed.

Original poster
Sunflowers2811 · 09/10/2019 12:15

Yes @peachesandclean this is me exactly!! I don't want to say what industry I work in as potentially outing, sorry everyone (anxiety). It just really really p*sses me off that you work hard and then you have one day to rest and you still can't get away from work! And yeah now I feel crap and guilty that I'm not swapping even though it would've meant doing two 13 hour day shifts, a 12 hour night shift and an 8 hour day shift in the same week Hmm

OP posts:
Yummymummy2020 · 09/10/2019 12:19

I don’t blame you being annoyed, there is nothing worse if it becomes constant. You don’t mind the odd emergency but when it becomes an expectation it can get too much. Don’t feel guilty and don’t feel you have to answer either, it’s time off for you to recharge and if you are not on call you don’t owe them anything! If you are happy and in a position to do the favour great, if not, that’s your prerogative!

Floopily · 09/10/2019 12:26

I don't check my work phone at all on my day off, it's switched off and in a drawer. A few of my colleagues have my personal no / what's app if anything is genuinely urgent and can't be resolved by someone else.

This would really piss me off but I guess if they want someone who is off to come in on that day the only thing they can do is contact you. Maybe ask them to assume that you will never do a swap if asked on the day itself as you'll have plans, and any other requests can be made when you're back in?

Chloemol · 09/10/2019 12:30

You have a choice, answer the phone or don’t if you don’t want to talk to work on your day off then just don’t answer the phone. That said how would you feel if it’s you that needed to change shifts, and your work had to contact someone who was off to see if they could cover and they refused to answer so you had to wait another day to see if it was agreed?

It’s a two minute call, yes you can, no you can’t and move on

PuppyMonkey · 09/10/2019 12:41

Agree with Chloe tbf, yes it’s annoying and you feel bad now but they only asked, they didn’t threaten to sack you if you didn’t drop everything and come in that very moment or anything. Put your phone on silent, turn off notifications and emails on days off and move on, OP. Have a nice day off.Smile

inwood · 09/10/2019 12:42

Just don't answer it. I don't work shifts but do work P/T, I don't get paid for working when I'm off so I long ago decided to stop doing it.

I guess with shift swaps though is it a bit of a case of I'll do yours if you do mine when I need it?

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 09/10/2019 12:46

I don't want to say what industry I work in as potentially outing

Really? Unless it's a really small industry then how on earth can it be outing? And if it is that small then really you are absolutely essential and need to be contactable on your days off.

thecatsthecats · 09/10/2019 12:52

I get it, OP.

I was working a horrendous amount of overtime on a project, and was leaving work on time but taking my laptop with me every single day.

I took an hour out one evening to watch the fireworks, and my manager texted me about work 'since you're working anyway' and it just tipped me over the edge. I was just so furious that it's given me a complex about it ever since (I was on holiday the following week, and couldn't sleep thinking about the project). Even if I was working, it was my choice, on my terms...

Luckily now, I'm the manager, and I absolutely crack down on any sort of pressure on employees!

User7429001 · 09/10/2019 12:54

You ANBU this Jack's me off no end filter calls and don't answer its the way the msg got through

HotChocolateLover · 09/10/2019 12:55

I wouldn’t answer the phone and I think my line manager who answers phone calls and emails on annual leave is a right saddo.

Original poster
Sunflowers2811 · 09/10/2019 12:56

I don't have a work phone, only a personal phone and they got a friend of mine to WhatsApp me not called me. So I wouldnt have been able to avoid it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunflowers2811 · 09/10/2019 12:57

Good on you @thecatsthecats

Everyone needs a break. Even if it's one day off in my case. It's just not sustainable otherwise.

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 09/10/2019 12:59

Just ignore them if you want to and reply at your convenience. If asked tell them you were driving/in a spa/having a bath....

Swipe left for the next trending thread