Employment Advice

Gambler

I became a dad for the first time last Saturday and absoltely adore my new son. Decided to take 2 weeks paternity leave which includes 3 days at full pay and the remainder at a paltry £106 per week, which after deductions is not really worth having but I can afford it so why not.

I am a manufacturing accountant and unfortunately my boss is not a very good manager. His planning skills are non-existent and he is a workaholic.

The result is I quite often get phone calls off him after hours, at the weekends and holidays etc.

I am not work shy and regularly average 40 hours per month overtime (which is paid).

So far I am on day 3 of paternity leave and had phone calls off him yesterday and today asking work based questions.

I really want to tell him where to go as my family are my most important thing at the moment. I also have my finalist exams next week.

Is there anything I can do legally?

Many thanks

nadnad

stop answering your phone - just turn it off - better yet - record a message on it saying something like "i've just become a dad and will be unavailable for the next two weeks whilst I dote on my baby leave a mesage and i'll call you back after that" - something light hearted so boss can't take offence. simply refuse to take his calls - he'll get the message after a couple of days. and don't worry theres nothing he can do about it.

most of all enjoy the new baby!!

dora37

Absolutely agree with nadnad ....turn your phone off.

Your boss has probably just got used to ringing you at anytime because you have previously always answered your phone. Sounds like he needs a bit of 'training', so start as you mean to go on ....work is work...home is home.

Congratulations to you and your OH :j .... enjoy your few days off with your little one.

across

congratulations! get the phone switched off and just keep checking 1471 every so often to check if anyone else who matters has rung!!!!!!!!!or tell them that matter to do a couple of rings and stop then you know it's them!!!!!!!!most of all enjoy the baby as it goes so quick get loads of cuddles in while theyre not to big to break your back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girl_least_likely_to

TURN YOUR PHONE OFF!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! :j

shellybelly_3

agree TURN THE PHONE OFF!!!!

you should be enjoying your new baby just now - congratulations btw!!

Mrs_Optimist

I agree with the above - Turn off your phone. My husband had the same problem with his last job - he wasn't on Paternity Leave but was assistant manager for a large retailer. He was called in at the last minute on numerous occasions when other members of staff called in sick, at no extra pay. He also had upteen calls at home, one morning the phone rang at 2.00am - the alarm had gone off and he was expected to go into work to reset the alarm, and then be back into work for his usual shift at 6.00am. There were loads of hassles with the job and he chucked it in last October and is now retraining to be a plumber. In the end he decided that the job was inflicting into his family life too much.

Make the most of this precious time with your new child, the job can wait for a couple of weeks. CONGRATULATIONS!

hobo28

Turn the phone off and check it twice a day say. That way you still can show loyalty to the job but retain time with the family.