If you wfh/hybrid, how often do you hear from your manager/get 'checked up on' when wfh? Feeling suffocated

[lastforever]

I used to speak to them maybe every other day but always for a specific reason, now I feel like they're phoning me at least twice a day and mostly feels like i'm just being checked up on, no work issue just 'how are things? What are you working on? Anything you need?' It sounds supportive but it's starting to get annoying.

I don't think i've given them any reason to need to check up on me, my work is getting done like normal, I'm always at my desk working when i'm supposed to be, I copy them in on emails and stuff like normal, they can see i'm working.

The only thing I can think of is that we are quieter and have lost a few staff so there are less of us to manage but is this normal? Are they just being supportive and i'm being grumpy or is this a bit much?

We have a one to one once a month and a team meeting fortnightly, otherwise we only really catch up when she’s assigning me some work (even then it’s usually just an email to ask “do you have capacity for x”)

I am generally known for being efficient and cracking on, she’s mentioned a couple of times that I basically “manage myself” so that probably implies she’s in touch with other team members more though. Twice a day would drive me round the bend though, how short are your deadlines?

More like 5h. 3 in the morning then the school run and after school care in the afternoon. His wife's a doctor so a lot less flexible. He makes up for it in the evening! Same as I do.

My manager and I will speak or message on Teams several times a day. There always seems to be something to discuss or one of us will questions. I don't mind at all (in fact I get annoyed if we can't speak)

It varies but at the moment nothing i'm working on has short deadlines, could be working on a couple of long tasks all week which is why it's so annoying when I say 'yes all ok thanks, am working on x today' and then get another call a few hours later saying 'what are you working on?' and then the next day, and the next afternoon, and the next day.....

have lost a few staff so there are less of us to manage

Maybe some of the staff leaving complained about their manager and the manager is now trying to be more involved and caring? Or at least pretend they are.

We have a scheduled meeting at same time once a week, for the whole Team. Sometimes these are full on staff meetings, introducing something new or whatever and can last up to an hour and a half, and other times they are more of a social "How is everyone" chat. Usually something in between.
Then, if there is a specific question regarding my caseload either I can contact her or she can contact me at any point - but if I don't answer, I just call her back when I can. This is only a couple of times a month though.
Then we have a scheduled 1:1 about every 6 weeks.

We have an online team meeting once a week and then he will message about various things throughout the week. Always specific things though, I never feel I'm being checked on.

We talk on teams throughout the day as I do with the rest of my team for queries and updates etc.

It varies but at the moment nothing i'm working on has short deadlines, could be working on a couple of long tasks all week which is why it's so annoying when I say 'yes all ok thanks, am working on x today' and then get another call a few hours later saying 'what are you working on?' and then the next day, and the next afternoon, and the next day.....

Try finding a polite way to ask your manager why they are checking in on you so often, particularly if you've already explained that you'll be doing x all week and they know it's not finished or overdue.

For example "Yes, I'm still working on X. I mentioned on Monday that it would probably take me three or four days, is there a specific update that you're looking for?

I've worked fh for my past few roles and had everything from unbearable, choking suffocation to checked once in a blue moon. The suffocator rang me between 2 and 7 times a day, I left very quickly. Happiest was a weekly check in with the team and knowing i could always get in touch with manager if needed.

Ask them why they keep asking you?

Why not try and take control? Set up a weekly meeting and walk them through your workload for the week and your priorities. Might calm them down a bit.

I have a chat with my actual manager every friday afternoon to check in and discuss work and life in general.

My 2nd lines gives me extra tasks but I was told that is how it will operate.

Other than that…. no one checks up on me.

I never my manager is checking up tbh. We have a 1-2-1 once a week, that's it. But I do have a large team (150 ish) and he knows I'm super busy.

Every second of every day is monitored and scrutinised.

We have a team meeting scheduled each week but often it doesn’t happen. My manager has honestly never phoned me unless it’s a pre-arranged meeting. Today I was WFH and had one email from him that was sent to several people at once.

The nature of my work means my manager has to plan what will be going out in the evening, so it’s a ‘morning, what are you working on today?’ And an afternoon ‘everything coming together alright for the evening?’

If there’s any issues I message them. We work to tight deadlines so we need to keep in the loop.

I don’t feel suffocated though - it’s just collaboration.

We chat all day on Teams anyway as that’s just the nature of our job… otherwise I’d hate it. Maybe you should say jokingly “I feel like you’re checking up on me, is everything ok?”

I would expect to speak to at least one person a day as part of my job routine and would message on Teams throughout the day.

If I wasn't at my desk for a non-planned call though they'd just leave a message. It wouldn't be assumed that I was skiving just as it wouldn't be if I was in the office.

All day every day. We're always chatting Teams or calling for a quick 5 min catch-up. Sometimes she instigates it, sometimes I do.

I am based from home but often out visiting clients - all are in my diary so they know where I am then. But on days WFH it’s rare I get a check in. I can sometimes go 3weeks maybe without a check in - but I’m happy with that.

Twice a day would make me rethink my job - currently when I’ve completed work I will do ‘jobs’ that I need to do and have even done my weekly shop! But I will also add I’m relatively high level, they know I do not need monitoring AND they have also told me on many an occasion that they are not at all bothered what I do with my day as long as I hit my targets, which I do!

Most days but for a specific reason. If I’m not at my desk it’s not an issue at all.

Depends what we are working on and whether we need to work together.

What she does do that drives me nuts is send 20 messages on messenger that could have been written in one email and I get ping ping ping ping ping....

Having said the above, I didn't call one of them much last week and they called me today to check I was ok!

I think it's such a varied question by job, group, team, manager etc that it's hard to generalise, OP. But you can definitely go to the loo!

We are all wfh. Im a manager

2 x team meetings a week.
1 x 121 a month

Then lots of ad hoc chats either on team chat or a team call.

I'd probably speak to each member if my team twice a week. Sometimes more and sometimes less.