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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for getting annoyed at colleagues being on their phones etc!

67 replies

Kitchendrama1 · 09/09/2021 18:29

I work in a team and our managers don’t watch us, have 121s or control workflow. Laid back yes.

We changed jobs and taken on more staff (from other teams).

However my colleagues talk a lot and spend a lot of time on their phones. One was even drawing the other day.

I’m getting anxious about it work because management aren’t checking work. As a result I’ll just do things and work for my contracted hours but be productive.

Friends are saying I shouldn’t care what others are doing and concentrate on my own work. However we all share work - what doesn’t get done one week gets done the next.

I’ve been with my present management team for five months and haven’t had 121s. They also don’t control work flow etc.

I really wouldn’t mind if I just had my own work to day, but it’s literally time work.

People say I shouldn’t care, but I get anxious about it. We are all the lowest entry level so I don’t have authority.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 09/09/2021 18:30

Aibu for having this emotional reaction?

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Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 09/09/2021 18:30

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Tempnamechange123 · 09/09/2021 18:33

I can understand it must be frustrating but I would just ignore it, don’t get involved.

AngelDelightUk · 09/09/2021 18:34

Could you email your line manager and ask for a “catch up”? I know when I used to have an office based role it was a commonly used phrase if you wanted to bring something to their attention

Palavah · 09/09/2021 18:34

Not unreaaonable to react emotionally - your feelings are just data, not facts. Your feelings are telling you that something(s) about the situation is in conflict with your internal 'rules' or beliefs. It's probably not terribly useful otherwise for you to have this reaction if you want to progress and/or be somewhere long term. If you want that then look for another job.

Meanwhile I'd do just as you've suggested you'll do - keep your own nose clean but don't bust a gut or try to make up for everyone else.

Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 09/09/2021 18:37

@AngelDelightUk

Could you email your line manager and ask for a “catch up”? I know when I used to have an office based role it was a commonly used phrase if you wanted to bring something to their attention
There is a management position coming available soon so I don’t want to rub my nose in it.
OP posts:
Brefugee · 09/09/2021 18:37

concentrate on your own work, if you want a one-to-one with your manager ask for one.

Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 09/09/2021 18:39

@Brefugee

concentrate on your own work, if you want a one-to-one with your manager ask for one.
*work assigned to me for that week, which also includes outstanding work that people could have done if they weren’t on their phone/talking/not working for 80% of the working week.
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Brefugee · 10/09/2021 09:04

it doesn't matter, though, if it's work that needs to be done.

Ask for a one-to-one and point this out? Or when they're giving it to you say "didn't x have that for last week/yesterday?" etc.

Frankly if you're not having to work at breakneck speed, or overtime, or without breaks (illegal) to cover other people's work, why are you worried about it?

squiddylama · 10/09/2021 11:04

Can managers see what has been done by who?

reluctantbrit · 10/09/2021 11:10

121 on a regular basis can be stiffling and not productive as lots of people would see them as constant control of your work.

I have them once a year but can ask for them at any time.

If I am given work others didn't finish on a regular basis I would point this out to my manager incl. why I think it hasn't been finished. That is just not acceptable.

I once job shared and would get unfinished work back on a regular basis and knew exactly why. After some time I sat down with our team leader and pointed out that I would do longer hours on my days to finish work I shouldn't be doing and asked him to observe my job-share colleague. After 3 weeks he admitted that there was a problem and it would be rectified. So, it is worth talking to managers about these things.

PinkiOcelot · 10/09/2021 11:14

Just concentrate on your own work and let others carry on.
There must be some way to monitor who is being productive and who isn’t surely.

Hekatestorch · 10/09/2021 11:21

To be fair, I think your friends are right that you should be anxious

You work, you are productive. There's not going to be come back on you, if management crack down.

I can understand feeling a bit pissed off. But nit anxious.

Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 12:43

@Brefugee

it doesn't matter, though, if it's work that needs to be done.

Ask for a one-to-one and point this out? Or when they're giving it to you say "didn't x have that for last week/yesterday?" etc.

Frankly if you're not having to work at breakneck speed, or overtime, or without breaks (illegal) to cover other people's work, why are you worried about it?

I am.

Today a serious issue was reported out of hours but because no one has been assigned to under take that task (checking) than I decided to do it. We are breaking protocol. This is a task that has to be done daily…. Management don’t care.

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Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 12:44

@reluctantbrit

121 on a regular basis can be stiffling and not productive as lots of people would see them as constant control of your work.

I have them once a year but can ask for them at any time.

If I am given work others didn't finish on a regular basis I would point this out to my manager incl. why I think it hasn't been finished. That is just not acceptable.

I once job shared and would get unfinished work back on a regular basis and knew exactly why. After some time I sat down with our team leader and pointed out that I would do longer hours on my days to finish work I shouldn't be doing and asked him to observe my job-share colleague. After 3 weeks he admitted that there was a problem and it would be rectified. So, it is worth talking to managers about these things.

Which I would do in my one to one but I don’t have a one to Inez
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Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 12:44

One*

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Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 12:45

@squiddylama

Can managers see what has been done by who?
Yep.

They choose to ignore.

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Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 12:46

@AngelDelightUk

Could you email your line manager and ask for a “catch up”? I know when I used to have an office based role it was a commonly used phrase if you wanted to bring something to their attention
My manager is being changed.

Another manager car shares with a problem employee (spends time drawing at work etc(.

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squiddylama · 10/09/2021 13:08

@Kitchendrama1 I very much doubt they ignore. Just because they don't single them out in front of everyone does not mean nothing is happening in the background. I think you just need to focus on yourself

KnobJockey · 10/09/2021 13:29

Well the problem has gone from 'colleagues are taking the piss' to 'management don't care that they are taking the piss'. There's nothing you can do in that situation tbh. If you go over their heads, then the manager will just come back with problems with you more than likely.

If the stuff that is being missed isn't your responsibility, don't do it. If the jobs that are coming over to you aren't creating more of a workload, i.e. they're instead of, not additional, then just do the job you are given.

It I think you should go look elsewhere- the culture of this place doesn't suit you.

Brefugee · 10/09/2021 13:30

Today a serious issue was reported out of hours but because no one has been assigned to under take that task (checking) than I decided to do it. We are breaking protocol. This is a task that has to be done daily…. Management don’t care.

Don't do it then. And escalate escalate escalate.

Cocomarine · 10/09/2021 13:39

Pointless to feel anxious about other people not doing their work, when you’re not judged on that. Just get on with your own. Sounds like you’re just doing your normal hours, so actually no real impact to you - you’re still working when you’re paid to work.

Hard to say on the “serious incident breaking protocol” - if it’s a legal or safety issue, then don’t take responsibility for it. So if someone is asking you to sign off quality on a product so it can be dispatched, and that’s not your job - you say no. They can then go and escalate through their management line.

Cocomarine · 10/09/2021 13:41

It is normal to feel irritated or frustrated - just no need for anxiety.

Whilst I appreciate that you’re not getting any management support here, you do seem to want quite a lot of it! I’d far rather be in that environment managing my own work than with an over involved manager making me spend more time justifying myself than working!

Kerberos · 10/09/2021 13:50

I would really struggle to work in that kind of environment. I need a sense of purpose and a sense of achievement at work. I'd be looking for something else.

Original poster
Kitchendrama1 · 10/09/2021 13:56

@Cocomarine

It is normal to feel irritated or frustrated - just no need for anxiety.

Whilst I appreciate that you’re not getting any management support here, you do seem to want quite a lot of it! I’d far rather be in that environment managing my own work than with an over involved manager making me spend more time justifying myself than working!

Want quite a lot?

I’m pretty sure it’s company policy to have monthly 121s. It’s also a new team to me (new managers) from April. No catch up “are you ok at the job”. Nothing.

I can manage my own work fine. Because it’s literally a team whereby if someone doesn’t do their job the week before it builds up on my job.

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