Boss keeps contacting me while on leave?

[wetlettuce41]

AIBU to want to be left alone to enjoy my leave?

Only on my second day of leave, and both days I have had missed calls from my boss at 8am…

Then he got a colleague to text me and ask for a call back.

Yesterday I did phone back, thinking it was urgent.

It really wasn’t. To do with my flexible working arrangement not having its yearly review back in June. This was supposed to be done by previous boss. I logged on yesterday as requested by new boss and sent through all the paperwork, forwarded the emails from June to show that I did send old boss the paperwork… I don’t know why it hasn’t been done. He said HR is on his back about it.

Not my problem is it?

I’ve done what was asked yesterday and this morning I’ve had another 8am phone call when I am trying to relax and text messages asking me to call back.

I work in the public sector. Never had this before. Boss is newly promoted.

I would have simply not responded to any of the messages. For the record I was away and took a different phone/left it behind. I would take some pleasue in seeing the messages pile up and wondering how long before the penny dropped. I am a past mistress in making myself unavailable.

Your new boss is on a power trip, OP. I hope they don't bother you again but if they do, email (don't call) them to say that you are on AL. Put it in writing.

This.

I’m an HR Director in a public sector organisation, and your boss is being totally unreasonable. He absolutely should not be contacting you unless it’s an emergency or there’s a major issue that all employees are being notified of at the same time. Over the past couple of years my own boss has contacted me twice while I was on leave: once when a senior colleague was killed in an accident and a second time when there was a huge flooding issue and the building was being closed. This is not ok, and I think it’s important that you raise it with him and keep your own records of everything that happens. Good luck!

This is absolutely GRIEVANCE territory.

If you dont do that, then you cannot complain afterwards if things do not change.

What this is, is harassment. Straight up.

Just put a block on all work related numbers until you go back. Or tell them you're on a secluded island for a while and unable to be contacted!

Have you said anything about the fact you are on annual leave? I think it’s time you remind him when you are due back at work and that you can catch up then.

Not acceptable and absolutely grievance territory!

Sincerely,
Public Sector HR

This is unacceptable.
I manage staff and I’d never contact them whilst on Leave unless absolutely very urgent.
What you have described can wait.
Id have a chat to him and ask you aren’t contacted unless it’s relevant to when you next log on. For instance if it was a shift change for example.
Anything else must wait for your return.

He knows I’m on leave. He apologised yesterday for disturbing me on leave… then did the same again today. He has said in an email he will “give me the time back”. I don’t want the time back, I just wanted to have a break from work and not worry about it.

I get along with my colleagues really well so I feel bad for the one that has text me as I’ve totally ignored, I feel a bit rude. He shouldn’t be asking them to do that, I know.

Some of the comments on here have made my spidey senses tingle a little bit. Quite a few people on the team were very upset at his comments about reviewing everyone’s arrangements to see if we are in the best place… I have reasonable adjustments to help me yes, but I’ve been there a long time and not been told there is any issue with my work, nor am I aware of issues with anyone else’s work. We all do the same role. It’s a good team everyone is very hardworking I would say, overworked if anything. Not sure if because he’s newly promoted he’s trying to prove something? Am I’m not in any sort of management, I’m bottom of the pile.

And if it had burnt down not very much op could do about it 🤣 I used to tell my team even if the building was on fire don’t bother calling me as I don’t work for the fire brigade so pretty pointless calling me as I couldn’t do much about it, I never got calls or messages on my hols lol

Politely ask not to be contacted for the remainder of your leave if he persists contact the union.

Worst one I ever had was when I was in hospital, postoperative, and on Tramadol. And yes, I did tell my boss to fuck off. And raised a grievance when I got back to work. The reason bosses phone people who are off sick / on leave is that they cannot do their own job properly. But they're the ones getting the big bucks. Leave them in no doubt that you will not let them get away with it.

I also find this frustrating I would just put then on do not disturb and if boss says anything when you return just say that annual leave is not really leave if getting bombarded with messages calls. Just say this is your time to leave work at the office and it’s your time for rest and recuperation and you never start work at 8 anyway and you will be fast asleep. Tell them calls should only be made in a crisis not just for the sake of it. Your colleague should message you to say sorry I’m hassling you but he won’t let up.

I once had a colleague who as he was leaving to go on annual leave said to our very needy boss “I’ve left my contact details for while I’m away in my top drawer, just in case of any emergencies “. It was before the days of mobile phones.

We opened his drawer and found a piece of paper with “Mallorca 999” written on it. 😁

This made me laugh a lot. Definitely do this OP.

I used to be part of a crisis team. I went on leave on the Friday and the cover didn't start until Monday.

They coped. They didn't start phoning and demanding I come in — they'd decided they didn't need cover that weekend. It was ironically probably the only time in the history of the job I'd have been needed over a weekend.

Your boss doesn't need you when you're on leave. Especially not at 8am. Just consider what they'd do if you ended up in ICU. Would they be calling you or coping without you? So they should treat your Leave with the same respect.

I’m fuming for you.
I think you will definitely have to say something on your return. It’s not acceptable and now he thinks he can do this every time you’re on leave. What a prick.

A manager who repeatedly rings you when you are on leave does not have the skills to be assessing reasonable adjustments. Screen grab everything, including your colleagues messages. Get it recorded in your next 1-1 that it happenned & it is not a work pattern you accept. Your boss is playing loose. Get advise from your union and explain to them you feel vulnerable due to the reasonable adjustments. This is exactly what a union is for.

If you aren't in one already, please join a union just in case your new boss's review of flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments turns into a review of your performance and an attempt to manage you out.

I have the same problem - sadly I am married to the boss 😂 in all seriousness though, we employ staff and I have no issue with being bothered whilst on holiday as I have a vested interest and my staff only ever bother us if it’s an emergency. As employers we would never dream of contacting any staff on leave unless it was an absolute emergency and then we would make sure they were given time back as it’s really not on. You need to raise this with the same HR department that apparently couldn’t wait for the information and to call at 8am (twice ) is disgraceful. I would be raising a grievance. Make them aware that they are causing you stress and anxiety about your job when you are supposed to be on leave from that job. If they really can’t cope without you then suggest they should pay you in line with your inability to be away from the business.

1. So incompetent that they don't realise you're on leave.
2. So incredibly obnoxious that they want to keep you connected to work regardless of being on leave or being ill.

Either way, tell them professionally to sod off.

Hi, just a quick update. The behaviour continued, contacted me again a few days after my last update and towards the end of my leave… again non urgent matters. Had an informal conversation with HR on my return, just to check. They said there is no policy that says management can’t contact me while I’m on leave… weren’t overly helpful to be honest and I feel a bit of a d*ck for even asking the question.

Your boundaries are yours to hold. You’ll know for next time.

ACAS suggests contacting employees during annual leave is unprofessional. Seeing as HR haven't been helpful, could you buy a new phone and use your old number just for work? That way you can switch that phone off during leave and relax, and they won't have your personal number.

As a tactic for next time, a few days before you’re taking leave have a check in conversation. I’m going to be off from X, and dont intend to have my work phone or laptop with me. Is there anything you need before I finish up? Then last day, late morning - repeat the check.