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

Why does it cost money to receive work calls? Or even to make them? Provided you are not calling internationally, phone calls should cost bugger-all.

Does your employer allow you to use your mobile phone during working hours? The last 2 jobs I had did not allow private mobile phones to be carried when working. Neither do my daughter’s or son’s employers, so I thought that this rule was pretty standard?

I would suggest that you do not answer if he phones you. However, if he asks why you don’t answer your personal mobile phone, I would suggest the following reasoning -

If not at work, because you aren’t working.

If you are at work, because you are busy working. If he asks why you didn’t answer, it’s because you were working and didn’t have your personal phone on. If he needs to contact you (or any of your colleagues) whilst you are in work he needs to supply mobile phones to his staff!

@MrsSkylerWhite So you had to give your home number because you worked from home before mobiles were invented
Hardly the same as working in an office where you can be contacted at anytime and there's no need whatsoever for them to have a personal line to you
I know you meant to be helpful but you have made me smile

Why wouldn't you just send a polite note telling the manager this is your personal number and supplying the right one?

I know it will come as a outrageous suggestion to some here, but WTF doesn't the company abide by the law of the land ? Surely that's a much better solution for all involved ?

Or is this a suggestion of 2022 to come ? "Don't bother with the law - just bumble along and try not to get in anyones way." ?

@DGRossetti

Why wouldn't you just send a polite note telling the manager this is your personal number and supplying the right one?

I know it will come as a outrageous suggestion to some here, but WTF doesn't the company abide by the law of the land ? Surely that's a much better solution for all involved ?

Or is this a suggestion of 2022 to come ? "Don't bother with the law - just bumble along and try not to get in anyones way." ?

Which law? I don't understand your post. If I freely give my mobile number to a colleague and he then gives to to my manager without realising that I don't want him to have it what law has been broken?

Individuals aren't subject to GDPR are they? I know the OP hasn't said why the colleague has her number but it doesn't seem like it would be for a work reason.

@DGRossetti

Why wouldn't you just send a polite note telling the manager this is your personal number and supplying the right one?

I know it will come as a outrageous suggestion to some here, but WTF doesn't the company abide by the law of the land ? Surely that's a much better solution for all involved ?

Or is this a suggestion of 2022 to come ? "Don't bother with the law - just bumble along and try not to get in anyones way." ?

Or we take a pragmatic view - the world has totally changed and we need to adapt a bit, not dig our heels in out of principle.

And I'm sure there's lots of people right now who'd be delighted to have s WFH job with regular pay, even if now and again their boss has the audacity to want to talk to them.

All these "can't see the problem" comments are ridiculous.

There is no reason for her manager to be calling her personal mobile where other ways are available.

You'd be happy at someone else giving out your personal mobile number? Really?

My work doesn't provide work mobiles. I've been very clear that unless they are going to pay for it, my personal mobile is not to be given out for work. Email and Teams comes straight to my phone so if anyone wants me they can get me immediately. There is no need to give out my number.

And I'm sure there's lots of people right now who'd be delighted to have s WFH job with regular pay, even if now and again their boss has the audacity to want to talk to them

Some people aren't working so we should accept poor practices by companies and just put up with it?

If my boss "has the audacity" to want to talk to me, he can send me an email or teams message. Which he does. He rarely calls my mobile, even though he is one of the few who has it.

It isn’t HER manager. It’s another manager THAT SHE DOESN’T KNOW.

Which law? I don't understand your post. If I freely give my mobile number to a colleague and he then gives to to my manager without realising that I don't want him to have it what law has been broken?

Individuals aren't subject to GDPR are they? I know the OP hasn't said why the colleague has her number but it doesn't seem like it would be for a work reason.

It wasn’t given the the OP’s manager. But anyway, yes, it is a data breach under GDPR. As it would be if a colleague discussed a private medical issue you had with another colleague.

I thought that most managers have access to an employees personal mobile number via HR records. Obviously not to be used willy nilly or in the way you're describing but to contact about urgent things or if they are unable to get through to you about other issues. For example I'm on maternity leave and don't monitor my work phone or laptop so my manager contacts me via text to my personal phone and emails to my personal email.

I would just contact the manager and say you don't look at your personal phone during work hours so please can he email you instead.

I would tell the colleague to ask you before giving your number out in future.

Or we take a pragmatic view - the world has totally changed and we need to adapt a bit, not dig our heels in out of principle

We've adapted by using Teams/Zoom and their respective IM functions. With such software widely accessible there is no need at all to adapt by compromising our personal phones. FFS.

OP one message to the manager saying please delete this number it was given in error. One to your line manager saying what you have done, and suggesting a clarification of policy given the GDPR breech.

I would send the above with a polite message stating that you have clarified with colleague/boss (whoever told you the initial story about how he was given your number) that he had been given your personal mobile number in error. Let him know your work number and email address and ask him to please delete your mobile number, as you will only answer calls for work on work-approved/sanctioned devices.

@WouldIBeATwat

Which law? I don't understand your post. If I freely give my mobile number to a colleague and he then gives to to my manager without realising that I don't want him to have it what law has been broken?

Individuals aren't subject to GDPR are they? I know the OP hasn't said why the colleague has her number but it doesn't seem like it would be for a work reason.

It wasn’t given the the OP’s manager. But anyway, yes, it is a data breach under GDPR. As it would be if a colleague discussed a private medical issue you had with another colleague.

So are you saying that everytime I give my number to a colleague they are a data controller or whatever the word it? Do we all need to be registered? What if someone gives me their number do I need to register?

While it goes without saying that discussing anyone's private info is very poor form it seems insane that it comes under GDPR. What about for example one person knows that 2 colleagues are having an affair, can they be reported for gossiping about that?

Honestly op. Some managers likes to call instead of email but you should have a work phone for that. I'd request a work mobile.
I think refusing to take calls at all during work hours looks very bad for you. Tbh.

I would think that your Company would be in breach of GDPR. Check with HR - he should be made to delete your number completely, together with any call history.

@Crazycrazylady

Honestly op. Some managers likes to call instead of email but you should have a work phone for that. I'd request a work mobile. I think refusing to take calls at all during work hours looks very bad for you. Tbh.

I haven't refused to take calls. I've been called twice by somebody I don't know and have never met and whom I didn't give my private mobile number.

I answered both times and had a very short conversation. Shortly afterwards I started thinking about what I've said in the original post

I made this post to garner opinions and on how to go forwards. I don't want to be contacted on my private number by anybody that I haven't directly given my number to

My colleague had my number because we did lift sharing whilst the panic buying of fuel was on. My colleague will also be retiring this year so if anything more calls to me are likely to follow

Thank you to all that have replied. I think I'll mention in an email that my number is private and not for work purposes etc but I'll word it politely etc

I think if my manager and this manager got on my colleague would have never given my number out and he'd have rang me on my manager's landline

I've seen how it escalates with ppl having private numbers and contacting you out of work and whilst you're on holiday. I don't want any of that. Once I leave work it's my time and I don't want to be disturbed

Report as a data breach.

ItsFuckingJuneDadQuickHide

@MrsSkylerWhite So you had to give your home number because you worked from home before mobiles were invented
Hardly the same as working in an office where you can be contacted at anytime and there's no need whatsoever for them to have a personal line to you
I know you meant to be helpful but you have made me smile”

Happy to have been of service

I also worked after the advent of mobiles really can’t see what the song and dance is about. I don’t work now but my husband is called at all hours 🤷‍♀️

Op
Just one point to mention is that it is a colleague ringing you, not some stranger off the street,, the fact that you haven't yet met him in person is irrelevant in my opinion. Its a short relevant work conversation within work hours
I also think that making a fuss about this given how short a time you are in the role is not a great idea but that's just my two cent worth. If your work wish you to be available on the phone during work hours ( not unreasonable) they should supply you with a work mobile but thats as far as i would go.,

To be people saying report to GDPR, The Op is in the job a wet week and has very little protection within her probation period, That's spectacularly unfair advice.

Sounds like you have come up with a sensible way to handle it OP.

(And I’m happily laughing my ass off at those who think it’s a GDPR breach )

I can't believe the amount of GDPR nonsense that's spouted on MN - often from posters purporting to be in HR. If an HR manager accessed someones records and released the number possibly. But not if Poster has freely given her number to a colleague who has shared it. Sure have a go at the colleague. For sure ask the manager not to use it.

Sometimes I wonder if some posters have ever held down a job in the real world.

@caringcarer

Report as a data breach.

Report who? Your colleague who you gave your number? Don't be daft