AIBU to be annoyed my boss keeps calling my parents?

[Moaningagainn]

So since my divorce I have obviously changed my emergency contact at work. However If my boss cannot get hold of me for whatever reason (to ask if I can do a different shift) she calls my parents and I am finding it really annoying.

Your manager is being completely unreasonable. It's a GDPR breach to collect that data for use in an emergency and to use it just any time she can't get hold of you when you're not working. Is there a huge backstory though? Because yes, if you don't show up for work, it's reasonable to use the emergency contact to raise a concern. If you're simply not turning up to work, it suggests there are bigger issues here.

If we couldn't get hold of a worker and they were substantially late for work, then yes, we call their emergency contact. If we can't get hold of the emergency contact, we go round to their house. Not because of work, but because of concern for them.

I've done it several times as a manager and the notable ones:

• colleague didn't come in to work, had never done this before. Rang his emergency contact (mum) they went round. Turned out he's been mugged and beaten up the night before and had a head injury, could have died.

• new colleague didn't turn up for work. Gave him until mid afternoon to return calls and texts. Rang his emergency contact. He'd been knocked over the night before and killed and his emergency contact had no idea how to contact his new work place.

• colleague didn't show for work, phone went straight to voicemail. Called her emergency contact after a few hours and turned out her abusive ex had locked her in the house and taken her phone.

easy solution, your mother blocks your manager's number.

Yeah, this is not ok. Back in my twenties when I was still living with my parents, I went for a job interview and by the time i got home the manager had called my home phone (pre mobile days), told my dad that they were offering me the job AND told him the salary they were offering. I was fuming, but being young and in need of the job, I kept quiet.

That works until there’s a real emergency.

I wonder what they do for people who have no emergency contact?

If one of my employees didn’t show up for their shift I would call them directly. If no answer I would text them asking if everything was okay.

I’d check the local news/twitter/Google maps to see if there had been any reports of an accident or live incident.

If no answer for a few hours I’d maybe call again. And if no answer, then I’d call the emergency contact.

Absolutely - you could have had an accident in the house, be hit by a bus etc. How does it look if you are lying dead for 2 days in the house and your employer didn't check if you were ok? Put on your big girl pants and follow company procedures if you are not turning up for shift. You don't want to be inconvenienced by your work phoning your mum to check you are ok. Do you think your work want to be inconvenienced by having to check you are all right and then Scrabble to cover your shift?

What is not ok is using an emergency contact for any situation that is not an emergency eg to swap shifts, see if you can pick up a shift etc. Get that part dealt with by HR.

Very bad form that your Line Manager/Manager is annoying contacting you out of hours ...

Are you in a Union?

If not join one right now OP!

HR need to insist remind your Line Manager/Manager to respect employees’ personal time at all times and that calling and/or contacting Emergency Numbers is for an 'Emergency' only!

It is their job to organise the rotas!

I would not be answering ANY calls/text/whatsapp out of hours.

Absolute CF!

Remove parents from emergency contacts, get a cheap burner phone and give HR that number.

Call the police and ask for a welfare check if there's sufficient concern. It's a responsibility of the employer check on a staff member's safety if they don't turn up for work and there's reason to be worried.

Wonderful idea. Until there's a real emergency 🙄.

Why go to all that trouble anyway when you could just make a number up!

You are absolutely right to be furious.

It's a clear breach of GDPR (using your personal information for a purpose other than it was collected for). And fines can be HUGE.

Any update @Moaningagainn ? Have you talked to your manager and/or HR?

If you don’t turn up to work without phoning in to say you won’t be there, and then you don’t answer your phone, they can legitimately contact your Emergency contact, as they need to check you’re OK.

This sounds very much like your 'boss' is an entitled narcissist who does not think that what most would consider unacceptable CF behaviour does not apply to them and nothing is off the table as far as getting what they want is concerned?! 🙄
If possible try to persuade your Mum that if this happens again she should very politely point out that her number was only given as a 'contact' on the premise that it would be used in an 'emergency' situation and unless this was one of those times she cannot help her and leave it at that. 🤔
If the problem continues then HR is the only other choice if you have this option at your place of work.😡

This screams of a breach of GDPR to me, sharing any personal info with someone you have not 'elected'. (Even if it is your mum). Documented complaint to HR.

You need to tell your manager if I don’t answer my phone on my non working days that’s my right. you have no right to call my mother unless it’s an emergency so do not call her and I will report you to hr as you are scaring my mother every time you call her she’s expecting the worst scenario. me being off on my off days is not an emergency if I collapse at work that’s an emergency. Do not let this carry on no wonder you feel like your at school call out your manager asap.

I’m not sure where you are - but if you’re in the UK this breeches GDPR as it’s using data for a purpose it wasn’t collected for. Effectively making this against the law.

If you’re in the US it will be down to your state laws - but generally it would fall under Tort law and it’s still not acceptable.

You need to document it - each time it’s happened.

You need to check the law in your local jurisdiction.