I have just annoyed my colleague

[lamplighter]

but this has been bugging me for a long time. Our colleague has a girlfriend who phones him ALL the time.

She calls when he gets in in the morning and at regular intervals throughout the day. The other morning she called SIX times, I can overhear the conversation he has with her and she obviously has nothing special or important to impart.

Our workload had increased hugely and I am rushed of my feet. Quite frankly she is wasting our time answering her endless calls and is blocking the phone line that other people in that office use.

The other day our director picked up the phone and got him out of a meeting because she said it was "important". It wasn't.

I have asked him to use his mobile or email her but I will no longer pass on messages or go and find him if she rings. He has taken it personally but I am not his bloody personal message taker! And YES she is still bloody calling!

AIBU?

No of course you are not. So long as you asked politely, he and his girlfriend are the ones being unreasonable. Sounds like she is a bit needy.....

YANBU sounds bloody infuriating.

Of course not!!!!

Surely he should get a warning? I used to work with a girl who spent her work hours on the phone to her extended family. It was hugely annoying not to mention detrimental to our team's workload.

And no, you don't have to pass on her messages, you're not his PA. I'm amazed he's so brazen about her calling- at least my colleague used to try to hide her personal calls.

She's getting your director to pass on messages??? Is she a celebrity or something?

No YANBU, incredibly annoying for you - but frankly I think its up to your Director to have a word with him. It sounds completely ridiculous that this is being tolerated.

How about if I told you she was 52 and they have been together for 26 years - she is not a love struck kid!

I have just had enough of it, she is a civil servant with a 60% attendance record at work so always seems to be 'off sick' with a cold or sore throat. She actually gets almost hysterical if she can't get through to him.

Today I had just had enough and said so and yes I was polite

Though it nearly choked me.

YANBU. It must be bloody annoying being treated like his PA.

Is it possible though that the colds/sore throat is a cover for something else - maybe severe depression or anxiety? That might then explain why she gets upset if she can't get through to him. It might also explain why management are turning a blind eye?

hang on - is she the colleague or is he?

oh i see - the 60% attendane thing made me think she worked with you, sorry

She is clearly not the ticket, she needs love

Flisspaps

Good point and i don't want to sound harsh but is that my problem? As I said I have put up with this for years and actually have a note that I use until it wears out saying 'Sue Rang'. I just stick it on his PC five times a day.

The phone bill from him to her on that landline was £72 last quarter because he calls her back everytime.

She is really starting to grind my gears now though.

Is she THE Sue? As in the woman Gordon Brown blamed for everything? In which case, no wonder she needs lots of chats.

did he pay that?
why doesn;t she call his mobile?

lol oranges
"I've had a really bad day at work..."

Stealth

No the company pays the bill and YES that is my point entirely - why doesn't she just call his mobile and leave us out of it? [grr]

This is what I suggested and he is now narked with me

YANBU, but she does sound err bonkers.

I rarely call my husband at work, if I need to get him I text or call his mobile. He is there to work, not chat to me when I get a bit fed up or bored during the day.

Maybe this could be my new tactic.

"Hi Darling, I am bored, I want to go shopping, just thought I would call you"

I can imagine the response!

i would take it to management, they sound like they would drive me potty!

I would definitely have a word with your manager if its causing problems with your workload. I'm a bit surprised that the company would pay a £72 phone bill without questioning it.

I think at the very least his manager needs to speak to him about misuse of the phone line - no way the company should be paying so he can call her back! It's fair use to call home when there is a need, but not for a chat several times a day.

If I was the manager I'd also be talking about workload and time issues - if the office is busy, he can't spend hours chatting.

I text or call my DP in the office to find out when he is leaving - just so I know when to start dinner.

How often do normal other people call their other halfs throughout the day?

make a complaint to management.

If she calls again and he's not there, don't say you'll get him to call her back, start saying "he's not at his desk right now, but he is available on his mobile". Hopefully she'll get the hint...

I chat to my DH on instant messenger when he can. If he can't he ignores it completely. There's no agreement that he'll respond. If I need him I call his mobile (which he can't hear because it's in the bottom of his bag but that's another argument )

I am surprised that the management haven't done anything about him before now. He really can't be doing a full days work if he so busy chatting to her all day.

I would go to hr or management.