Private number given out

[ShadowGirls]

I've been in my new job four months, I'm very happy and enjoying it but my private mobile number has been given to a manager that I don't know.

I've never met him, never even spoken to him face to face. My close colleague gave the manager in question my number. I think my colleague was trying to be helpful but we all have company emails so anybody can contact me that way

Twice I've been called by said manager in work time about fairly minor things, no reason they couldn't have been put in an email

AIBU to block him from calling me?

I don't want anybody that I haven't given my number to having my number and calling me. The colleague that gave my number out was off for a week recently and said the guy in question rang them every day to ask work questions. Before I know it he could be ringing me too out of work

I just don't want to cause any later issues as at the end of the day I'm in quite a basic role and he's a high flier. I just feel a bit annoyed that my private number has just been given out, I wasn't even asked first. I would have said no

I absolutely wouldn't block him!! I would just email him though and ask that all correspondence go through email as you don't like to use your personal mobile for anything outside of work
Do you not have a land line. ? If you're working from home as temporary measure I don't think it's that unreasonable as long as it's work hours through?

Wouldn't be an issue for me personally.

I would ask why he was given your number in the first place.

Also, I would make it clear that you are not to be contacted this way unless it's a full on emergency.

I would be very pissed off if my private number was shared without my consent. I would block him. If he wants you to answer calls in work time - then perhaps he should provide a work mobile. Emails should be sufficient- unless the decision are life or death - unlikely.

I'd be wary of your colleague, don't take what he says about the manager at face value. There's nothing wrong with asking the manager to email rather than call. You can ignore the call if you aren't in work and address it if it becomes regular.

Just don’t answer him when he rings

I can see why you are annoyed that somebody gave your personal number out, but I don’t think blocking is the answer. This manager has been given a contact number for you in good faith and many people think picking up the phone is nicer than sending an email.

If he contacts you during work hours, well I don’t think it really is an issue, you presumably should be contactable to colleagues. If he contacts you outside work hours, ignore? If you accidentally pick up, say you are not working at the moment?

It’s not unreasonable for a manager at work to be able to contact you by phone during the working day. If you dont want to use your mobile number, you’ll need to give them another number to contact you on. Is the problem that you’re working from home so not at a desk with a conpany phone? You could ask for a company mobile?

I would contact the person who was given your number and say “sorry, it looks like you were given my private phone number by mistake. I’m afraid that I would not have agreed to that if I had been asked, I would appreciate it if you could delete the number and contact me using the agreed company protocol. Thanks for your understanding.”

Maybe time to suggest everyone in the company has a GDPR refresher course ?

Also did you tell the Data Protection Officer ?

Just say no.

When they next call say you'd like them to not use this number as it is your personal phone number which is not used for work. You are accessible via email or IM/video call on whatever system your business uses (teams? Zoom?) or on your work phone (if you have one)

I did the same with my boss at an old job. No repercussions at all.

@Flatandhappy

I would contact the person who was given your number and say “sorry, it looks like you were given my private phone number by mistake. I’m afraid that I would not have agreed to that if I had been asked, I would appreciate it if you could delete the number and contact me using the agreed company protocol. Thanks for your understanding.”

Perfect response!

We only have one landline in the office and that's my manager's phone on his desk

My manager absolutely despises the guy in question, not too sure why

I haven't asked my colleague why they gave my number out. He was off for two weeks when he gave it out. I could ask this week

I think it would be different if it was somebody I'd actually met and knew

It is not on for someone to be given your personal mobile number unless you have agreed to it in advance, and that you are happy to receive work calls on it.

They have other ways of contacting you during your working day, and there should be no need for it anyway, especially if you are not at managerial level in the business.

I'd be pissed off too. I'd feel its an invasion of my privacy. I'd ignore it and when they bring it up say you are only replying to emails to keep it professional
Bloody rude of both of them to assume this is OK and possibly illegal now?

Just don't answer, and if he asks why, say that you've got the phone on silent as you are concentrating on your work and don't want your personal phone disturbing you....

Its a data protection issue and should be raised with your line manager. If they need to call you about work then they give you, or pay towards a mobile phone contract. Switch your phone off when at work if you only want it to be used for personal calls, you want have a leg to stand on otherwise. If childcare need to call you in emergencies then give them the switchboard number.

I would ask the person why they gave it out - just out of curiosity and all that!

Next time he calls dont answer and drop him a text saying please put anything in an email. I wouldn’t block him but i would make it pointless and slower for him to call you. - Save his number with Work before his first name so you never answer by accident or set it so that when he calls your phone doesn’t actually ring (i think you can do this on an iphone - not sure about other phones).

Make sure whenever you go on leave you put your out of office on and put your working hours on your email footer.

Does the company pay for any part of your mobile phone bill? If not, they have no right to be using it for their work purposes.
Another thing to consider is that if your personal device was being used for work purposes, your company could retain the right to look at your phone for storing company communications.

I would either - not answer, let it go to voicemail. And email the manager the following day to say 'apologies, I missed your call, I don't usually answer work calls when I'm not in work, how can I help?'

Or when they call, answer and say 'I'm not sure if you're aware, but this is my personal phone number. Can you please send me this in an email and I'll respond when I'm in work. Thanks'.

@Flatandhappy

I would contact the person who was given your number and say “sorry, it looks like you were given my private phone number by mistake. I’m afraid that I would not have agreed to that if I had been asked, I would appreciate it if you could delete the number and contact me using the agreed company protocol. Thanks for your understanding.”

Yes or this!

Work don't have my mobile number, only my home number in my HR records.

One of our directors did ask for everyone's private mobile number, I wouldn't give it, as they have no reason to call me on it.

I’ve always assumed work can get personal number from HR if needed.
If they need you to be contactable though they should provide a work phone.

I would save his number in your phone and not answer it.

Do you have a separate work number? However if you had given the number to other colleagues to use during work hours then it would be difficult to argue that it was inappropriate.

Surely managers have always had access to employee records?

I had to give my landline to HR before mobiles existed.

Can’t see the issue.