If it’s an emergency, wouldn’t they call?

Seems like something that could have been avoided.

That manager handled it all wrong which could cause this employee to find another job

I have no problem with checking a text to see if it's an emergency and I have no problem holding my ground on that.

Consider yourselves fortunate that you've never gotten one that said: "Bill, this is Stacey. Susan was found unconscious at the Trader Joes parking lot and has been taken to Innova."

Also- if I was the guy in the meeting you can bet I'd never answer another email, text or call outside of 9-5, M-F.

Anonymous wrote:Be where your feet are. Guy could have checked in during a meeting break or after the meeting.

It takes like 3 seconds to look at a text. It's not disruptive at all.

What absolutely IS disruptive is calling someone out during a meeting. The correct way for the manager to handle this would be to raise it in private, outside the meeting itself.

Be where your feet are. Guy could have checked in during a meeting break or after the meeting.

Unprofessional.

My program's top guy (Assistant Secretary of a mid-size Fed agency) would call you out during meetings (not openly). If he sees someone checking phone during meetings/Teams, you will hear from him (via one of his assistants) within 5 min.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?

Colleague should have either privately told manager that he needed to check texts or announced it at beginning of the meeting. Overall, I give checking texts/texting during a meeting a thumbs down though.

Depends on the meeting length. A 2 hr meeting-yes it should be acceptable. A 20min- let it slide but if it becomes a habit then address it. Also, if you want me to respond to your text messages/emails while I am not physically in the office then the reciprocal should be allowed. Just like most managers wouldnt contact without it being important, I assume that most employees wont be watching their phones or checking for updates unless its important. Its only a problem when its a problem. Its not a problem just on action alone.

Anonymous wrote:Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?

Colleague should have either privately told manager that he needed to check texts or announced it at beginning of the meeting. Overall, I give checking texts/texting during a meeting a thumbs down though.

Anonymous wrote:Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?

Did the manager know it wasn’t a work email that he was checking?

I think a quick look is fine, textING during a meeting less so.
So yeah that is a bit awkward, but kids safety > power tripping mgr.

Anonymous wrote:Good for your coworker for standing his ground

100%

Good for your coworker for standing his ground

Anonymous wrote:Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?

Industry?

Just out of a meeting with visiting managers from NYC. A colleague of mine was 'scolded' by our manager for looking at a text. Visiting managers said nothing. Guy who checked his phone didn't apologize and actually said- 'yeah, my kid is traveling today so I'll continue to check texts from her'.

It was definitely an 'eff you' to the guy who called him out. The whole thing was awkward, and I don't think anything should have been said to begin with

Thoughts?