Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calling without notice is a thing?

I feel like this must be generational (I'm an older millennial FWIW). If it's during business hours, then yes, you can answer the phone without being notified that there's going to be a phone call. This is how business was done for decades and nobody died from anxiety.

I’m also an elder millennial (37) and remain flummoxed about how anxiety-inducing phone calls of any sort are viewed by some in our cohort.

It is very strange.

Phone call anxiety only gets worse the younger the employees are! It's astounding!

I have someone on my team who has a doctor's note that exempts her from having to speak on the phone with any customers unless it is a call she schedules. It also exempts her from answering the phone if a heads-up email/chat was not delivered first. It caused her too much anxiety and made her have panic attacks.

That’s ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:What about if they call you at the very end of the day? Still technically work hours but at the cusp?

You pick up the phone. So what if it’s the cusp of the day. My boss is on the west coast. Sometimes she forgets I’m on the East coast. If I’m prepping dinner I pick up. If I’m eating dinner I do not. If I’m waiting for the kids to finish an activity I pick up. If the kids activity has led to a game or something more involved than practice I don’t pick up.

My boss and I get along. She might say Hi—how are you? And I’ll say great, I’m just getting dinner started. What’s up. That lets her know it’s later where I am but I’m still around if she really needs me. The majority of the time she’ll says oops sorry the time difference slipped my mind. We can talk about it tomorrow. Once on a while she’ll say I’m sorry I know it’s after hours but can you help me with this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calling without notice is a thing?

I feel like this must be generational (I'm an older millennial FWIW). If it's during business hours, then yes, you can answer the phone without being notified that there's going to be a phone call. This is how business was done for decades and nobody died from anxiety.

I’m also an elder millennial (37) and remain flummoxed about how anxiety-inducing phone calls of any sort are viewed by some in our cohort.

It is very strange.

Phone call anxiety only gets worse the younger the employees are! It's astounding!

I have someone on my team who has a doctor's note that exempts her from having to speak on the phone with any customers unless it is a call she schedules. It also exempts her from answering the phone if a heads-up email/chat was not delivered first. It caused her too much anxiety and made her have panic attacks.