HELP! Being contacted by work whilst I'm on holiday....this surely can't be right...

SomeBozo

sanderson wrote: »

I totally agree with you Bozo but when you have someone contact you to 'see if I can have some time off near the end of the year?' you seriously start to wonder how many ways you can tell someone not to contact you. It seems so very petty because it's just a call/text but I really do not see the necessity of it whilst I'm off?


Thanks

At hand over, what should have been said was "If anyone wants to book holiday while I am off, please see X".

Sometimes the problem is with the employee who is off.

You are not one of those bosses that won't let people act for you while you are off are you? Do you say holidays have wait until your back etc? No order made until you back?

Have you given people the power to do your job in your absence?

Bozo

sanderson_2

The holiday request is not for over 4 months time, we are a small business granted, but I have an assitant mgr who is completely competent. In fact they even informed the employee of the correct procedure......speaking to a brick wall perhaps? What I don't understand is why?

It has been made clear to me that I now have a problem that needs addressing, which will have to wait until I'm back.

I do not consider my self as 'one of those bosses'. I am very lucky to have a assistant mgr who I have every faith in to make and carry out the 'right' decisions/actions in my absence.

This has turned into a repetitive nightmare of nuisance and unnecessary calls/texts.

I just assumed that because I would class this as unnecessary contact if I was to treat this employee in the same way with numerous calls/texts I would face some sort of tribunal or similar?

Anderson

HellsGranny

I think the only person who should have your mobile no. should be your Assistant Manager.

Your employees are avoiding the chain of command by calling you. I bet they wouldn't like it if you called them on holiday!

You really should maintain a 'professional distance' from them, otherwise there could be issues if you need to discipline anyone in future.

Not trying to 'get at you', just saying that overfriendliness can breed contempt if you let them take advantage.

andygb

I turn my mobile phone off whist on holiday (or did when I was in work), because there was a "culture" of needless texting and contacting staff when they were away from work. I have even been reprimanded on my return for doing it.
We do not live to work, we work to enjoy our lives and our freedom.

duncans-mum_2

I used to have this problem when I was in work, can be very annoying to say the least and at most can be very stressful when you are trying to relax and take a break.

The idea of the separate phone seems like the best option, then you won't have the stress of it even ringing.

If its any consolation though, I was made redundant at the end of March and I still get the odd text or email from them asking about a particular customer or where some information is kept . I was not a manager, I was staff .

Hope you get it sorted.

ceridwen

...hmmm...almost a case for taking on employees in the first place from my generation (ie the "Baby Boomer" generation) - as we are VERY well aware JUST where the boundaries lie - having been brought up by parents who are very conscious of where the "me parent - you child" boundaries lie - so you are always very well aware of just where the "dividing line" on acceptable behaviour lies.:rolleyes:

Now you just knew there are advantages to taking on my age group as employees - as well as the fact that we are more reliable.;):D - besides the far less likely to have a hangover of a Monday morning scenario....

The thought would probably never even cross the mind of a "baby boomer" to ring someone whilst they were off work....

lynzpower

I agree the blackberry culture is a nightmare.

I tried to avoid it my not installing the email for a few weeks. I do an out and about job with lots of driving - including central london. It goes off every 5 minutes.

I couldnt even work out how to turn off the emails. They would go off throughout the night, I now take the battery out of it. It is SO pervasive. I cant stand it. It so disturbing for OH, he gets so !!!!ed off with me replying to emails but I feel i have to.

So glad its the weekend, the batterys been removed

freakyogre

ceridwen wrote: »

...hmmm...almost a case for taking on employees in the first place from my generation (ie the "Baby Boomer" generation) - as we are VERY well aware JUST where the boundaries lie - having been brought up by parents who are very conscious of where the "me parent - you child" boundaries lie - so you are always very well aware of just where the "dividing line" on acceptable behaviour lies.:rolleyes:

Now you just knew there are advantages to taking on my age group as employees - as well as the fact that we are more reliable.;):D - besides the far less likely to have a hangover of a Monday morning scenario....

The thought would probably never even cross the mind of a "baby boomer" to ring someone whilst they were off work....

I don't think you can really base it on age, some people just don't have any common sense.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, my old manager gave us his mobile number for emergencies and we didn't take advantage. I do remember one occasion where he changed his number and gave it to another colleague, I happened to meet my manager in the car park (he was on his way home) and we went to a shop on the same retail park. We had been out the store for all of 2 minutes when his phone rang...guess who it was?

He's in his 40's, whereas i'm in my 20's.

Oh, and I very rarely drink and don't go out, so that argument doesn't always work either

sharkie

it was 50p for a contractless payg sim from ASDA, and they have one of the cheapest dialing and phone rates in the country

bristol_pilot

You are in management - being called on holiday / weekends goes with the territory. Stop moaning and think of the handsome salary you are being paid.