To ignore certain Teams calls when WFH?

[consortiar]

Does anyone do this?

I'm the middle of other work and/or perhaps don't particularly want to be put on the spot in a call so just ignore?

It's clear I'm available so they probably know too.

But why not just send an email?

[SpeckledlyHen]

I wouldn't ignore a call but you need to manage your teams better. Either put yourself as busy or even better DND where the call or message would be blocked. You can add important people (like a boss) in the acceptable list whilst on DND.

We have a strict instruction at work, we only ping people when they are green. You literally type ping when they are green only. They then ping back to say the are willing to talk, you then say can you talk? and wait for confirmation before ringing them.

[maddiemookins16mum]

So, imagine this, (before Covid/Wfh), you’re in the office doing something and someone comes over to ask a question, pass on information etc. You then basically ignore them, don’t respond.

I honestly think WFH has turned some people into rude, entitled idiots.

[Bubblebubblebah]

@maddiemookins16mum

So, imagine this, (before Covid/Wfh), you’re in the office doing something and someone comes over to ask a question, pass on information etc. You then basically ignore them, don’t respond.

I honestly think WFH has turned some people into rude, entitled idiots.

I think it's rude to just think you can drop on anyone whether online or in office whenever you want.
In the office you can see what people are doing so you wouldn't just walk there and started talking while they type. Here you can't see them so it should be normal to ask. Tbh even in office we ask "do you have a minute?" First.

[consortiar]

@SpeckledlyHen

I wouldn't ignore a call but you need to manage your teams better. Either put yourself as busy or even better DND where the call or message would be blocked. You can add important people (like a boss) in the acceptable list whilst on DND.

We have a strict instruction at work, we only ping people when they are green. You literally type ping when they are green only. They then ping back to say the are willing to talk, you then say can you talk? and wait for confirmation before ringing them.

This sounds great.

[woodhill]

@Tierne

I've noticed this is usually done by people with "filler" jobs, if they dont have a few Teams in the day they feel like their role isnt important, which it isnt

Filler job?

[sheepdogdelight]

I wouldn't ignore calls, but that's because people only tend to call me when it's important - otherwise they message me.

If this isn't the case in OP's company, I wouldn't just ignore the call, I'd message "sorry, in the middle of something; I'm available after 3pm/I'll call you back later"

<I'm in the unhappy position of having too many colleagues that never respond to me. It's not very professional>

[SunnySideDownBriefly]

I'm with Consortiar and it's about managing people.

I've had lots of discussions around this and I think it's really poor etiquette to just video call someone out of the blue. If it needs to happen then message first and wait for a response. It's rude to just barge into people's offices too and distract them - my favourite thing about WFH is the lower level of distraction. It takes around 30mins to recover from a distraction and return to a deep level of concentration.

[NothingIsWrong]

I would almost always message first and ask if they have 5min and a one sentence precis of the issue, if it's not obvious from our current working relationship.

Occasionally I would just call, but it's not often at all and would have to be super urgent

[consortiar]

@NothingIsWrong

I would almost always message first and ask if they have 5min and a one sentence precis of the issue, if it's not obvious from our current working relationship.

Occasionally I would just call, but it's not often at all and would have to be super urgent

This is what I do every single time /

[TastesLikeFlavourlessFizz]

If it could have just been 1 quick email, I'd be annoyed (though would generally answer because I don't know that at the time). If it's more or if the person in question is particularly shit at getting back to emails, I welcome a quick chat.

However, if ever I didn't want to answer or am in the middle of something, I wouldn't. But that would be rare.

[consortiar]

@SunnySideDownBriefly

I'm with Consortiar and it's about managing people.

I've had lots of discussions around this and I think it's really poor etiquette to just video call someone out of the blue. If it needs to happen then message first and wait for a response. It's rude to just barge into people's offices too and distract them - my favourite thing about WFH is the lower level of distraction. It takes around 30mins to recover from a distraction and return to a deep level of concentration.

Thanks sunny - a little message just to say you ok for a quick call and one line synopsis is perfect and much more likely to prompt a response

[gatehouseoffleet]

@Cervinia

If you had been in the office working before covid and the phone on your desk rang would you ignore it? I think the whole Covid thing has changed yeh way people work and not always for the better.

Yes I did ignore it.

People should arrange a time to speak rather than thinking they are more important than the work you are doing at that time.

[Thepeopleversuswork]

I do think WFH slightly changes the etiquette on Teams calls.

I wouldn't ignore calls... I'd always send a message saying "sorry I missed you, can we chat at x?". But I do inwardly groan when certain people Teams call me.

I have one colleague in particular who is really bad for following every email up with a call. It's unnecessary and time consuming and its inevitably always when I'm about to go onto a client call or really busy on something. When I do actually speak to him its always just reiterating something he's just said to me over email and its 10 minutes of my life I won't get back. I have started to ignore his calls as I find them slightly draining.

I do think there's an added impetus with video calls to be mindful of what other people are doing and to send an email first.

[girlmom21]

If your Teams status says available you're telling people you're available so shouldn't be ignoring calls.

If you do decline them, send them a quick message and say "I'll call you back in two minutes" once you've got to a place you can pause.

[anon5678]

@Merryoldgoat

Well, if I were at work that person would just come into my office and I'd see them so I answer the call as it's the same thing to me but we don't have lots of calls.

I think in the office though people would say "do you have a moment" and if you don't you can arrange a later time. On teams calls people tend to just launch into what they're calling about. Instead they should message first imo to ask if you're free for a quick call

[itsnotdeep]

Well it's the same as walking up to someone else's desk when you're in the office imo, so no I don't normally ignore unless I'm tied up on something else that I can't leave.

Different colleagues have different approaches - one always just calls me on Teams as it's quicker than writing an email.

[BuwchGochGota]

@HoneyIShrunkThePizza

I block out time for focus but etiquette in my organisation is you message first, then if they're free you do a Google call. We don't use teams really for internal stuff.

Same here.

We use Google, so you can set yourself to Focus Time or Do Not Disturb if you're working on something. But my colleagues would always pop a message in chat before setting up a call anyway to check I'm available. Totally normal to reply "Sorry busy right now, can we do it in half an hour/ this afternoon/ tomorrow?"

[spuddy56]

I never pick up unannounced calls, I can't stand being distracted! It would be rude in our team to call someone out of the blue. We use chat functions a lot though.

[Bubblebubblebah]

The amount of people ignoring Focus time is astounding

[MRex]

I mark "do not disturb" or close Teams if I can't be disturbed. People usually call if it's very quick and urgent, so I don't mind. I'd be a bit confused if someone called out of the blue and started up a long chat, perhaps best to offer them a diary slot in that case.

[abovedecknotbelow]

If I'm working on a big 'thing' I shut down teams and outlook or I dont get any time to work. I hate that the teams culture is you must answer / react right now.

[PrincessofWales]

I occasionally ignore telephone calls (working in the office) from a certain client. He's rude and extremely unpleasant and I don't always have the headspace to deal with him. I know I should but can't always do it.

[Mangogogogo]

@MrsKipling16

I change my Teams status to “do not disturb” when I’m trying to concentrate on getting a specific piece of work done - that way my team know that I’m not “available” and also prevents me getting notifications of messages people may have posted in group chats as well (I’m too easily distracted 😏)

I do exactly this.

but normally yes I answer the phone. We do work with extremely vulnerable people though so I wouldn’t want to miss an important call

[MomwasCasual]

If my status is set to Available, I answer, because I'm available.

If people call when my status is Busy, I won't, cos I'm like, busy!

Most people at my place tend to IM though really, so it's not much of an issue. But please- if my status is Busy, dont message with

'Hi XXXX'

'How are you today?'

I'm good, but BUSY. You want something from me so just get straight to the point, I really don't mind!!

[Goldenbear]

YANBU but I do similar knowing the usual suspects who in my workplace just like to chat for chatting sake. I have my own office so it is easier to ignore. Sometimes I have to anyway as I have the kind of job where certain things have a legal response time, when this is the case I can't speak to Dan about a point i have clarified 3 x already. Equally, for accountability reasons I often need things written down in emails.