Boss that Calls Without Notice

[Anonymous]

My experience is that general office etiquette now is that you send a quick IM first before calling asking if they are free for a quick call. I agree with the youngsters on this one - it's a bit jarring to get a call out of the blue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all sound like dinosaurs. Nobody calls people or wants a phone call.

This.

Seriously. Do not call me. Schedule a meeting if you MUST talk to me beyond what can be communicated in a few lines of text.

Come on.

-42, elder millennial

Lol you’re Gen X i think

Close. I’m not QUITE 42…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is in normal business hours what is the issue?

Some jobs don’t really require people to be available at the drop of a hat. Some do. Hopefully people end up in jobs where their idea of what is urgent, and the boss’s idea, align.

I personally don’t like accommodating people that are so unorganized or overwhelmed that they need me to fix their problems for them at the last minute.

[Anonymous]

My boss is younger than me and is rather chill. He calls me several times a week without notice. NBD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my early 20s & many years ago, I was fortunate enough to get my 1st job in data processing.
I had a role in a data center that operated 24/7. I would get calls sometimes in the middle of the night from users, shift supervisors, sometimes upper management, etc. to resolve issues or problems.
Guess what? I didn't complain and I always answered the phone.
I earned a reputation for being professional, reliable, and competent.
I received regular promotions and now have a very nice house with a pretty high personal net worth.

Hear that young new employees?
(sigh...probably not for many)

Why didn't you just find another job?

I could explain it to you, but I won't be able to comprehend it for you

Some things can’t be taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all sound like dinosaurs. Nobody calls people or wants a phone call.

This.

Seriously. Do not call me. Schedule a meeting if you MUST talk to me beyond what can be communicated in a few lines of text.

Come on.

-42, elder millennial

Lol you’re Gen X i think

Xennial at best. 1980 is the bridge year. It's generally agreed that 1981 is Millenial and that 1979 is Gen X. Though you could argue 1978-1982 birth years are all Xennials.

It’s 2023. The oldest millennials are turning 42 this year. Regardless, if someone who is basically GenX is telling you not to call them, it’s not because they’re young and unestablished. We just don’t want to deal with you. Especially if you’re a boss who is younger than we are, haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all sound like dinosaurs. Nobody calls people or wants a phone call.

This.

Seriously. Do not call me. Schedule a meeting if you MUST talk to me beyond what can be communicated in a few lines of text.

Come on.

-42, elder millennial

I remember you from the other phone call debate

[Anonymous]

My boss texts if something is urgent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all sound like dinosaurs. Nobody calls people or wants a phone call.

This.

Seriously. Do not call me. Schedule a meeting if you MUST talk to me beyond what can be communicated in a few lines of text.

Come on.

-42, elder millennial

I remember you from the other phone call debate

Not me!

[Anonymous]

Unless something is SUPER urgent, please do not call me at work.

[Anonymous]

My boss does not do this, but our work in very independent and requires a lot of tedious research/writing, so there’s not a lot of spontaneous collaboration and sudden phone calls can break your concentration or momentum getting through something complicated. So I appreciate that my boss is pretty good about IM-ing and asking me for a good time to chat instead of just calling.

99% of the time I’ll drop what I’m doing and say I can chat then. But on occasion I’ll be about to pop into a training, or I’m on a tight deadline to get someone an answer on something, so I may say “I need to get X to so and so, are you free in half an hour.”

Even in my personal life I prefer people texting first vs. just calling. I’m pretty extroverted, but getting interrupted when you’re in the middle of something can be annoying. Also it’s helpful when the person lets you know in advance what they want to chat about so you can have whatever document you need open, or think up any questions you want to ask as well vs. just talking about something on the fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, now we have to give notice before we call someone?

you don't "have to" but would be nice. people have zoom/team calls thru out the day. quick email to ask "hey you got a few min to chat" is not a bad idea

+1

It’s not required, but it’s a courtesy. If I am about to login to a meeting in 5 min. and was planning to refill coffee/go to the bathroom before then, it’s not a good time for a call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you have bosses that only call? No emails, and no warnings of upcoming meetings or scheduling. I know it is within their rights to do this but it can be unnerving for the employee to always be on edge. Anyone else have a boss like this?

Do you mean do I have a boss that I trust and have a good relationship with so that either of us can call the other at any time without fear or being "unnerved"/ on edge?

Yes.

+1

[Anonymous]

calling without notice is a thing in the gov.

in prior experience people wouldn't call without notice

[Anonymous]

“Yeah but I just don't answered . "Oh, sorry, I missed your call. Phone was on mute." response.”

If you were one of my juniors, I would totally put you in the shit house for pulling this. You’d get the crappy projects, no feedback, no help with professional development, and I’d do what I could to get you out.