i also have a work related problem and wanted some opinions. i started working with this company at an entry level almost 2 years ago. i have stepped up so fast that now i am at a higher position than almost all the employees who’ve been with this company for 5 or more years. a few months ago i was given a company blackberry and offered a laptop. i refused to take the laptop but took the phone. i used it to answer occasional calls/emails here and there but for the past few weeks i feel as if i am constantly working outside of work. at first i didn’t mind because i was being steered towards a new terminal that is opening and i could see a very bright future there. then i started training under a new dept for a few weeks where i am supposed to start at 7:00am. i have been a few mins late a few times but it’s mainly because i am taking calls or answering emails from home. like yesterday i was woken up at 5:40ish am by a work phone call when my alarm is actually set for 6:00am. i was dealing with a work related problem and had to make a few phone calls while getting ready for work so i showed up almost 15 mins late. today i had to answer a couple of emails so i was 5 mins late. the manager of this new dept called me into his office and told me to be there at 7:00am sharp. i told him how i’m sometimes being woken up early in the morning and have to answer phone calls/emails but he said that he doesn’t care how many emails/phone calls i have to answer i have to make sure that i am in that office at 7:00am because everyone thinks that i come and go as i please. i felt so bad because i put in wayyyyy more hours than anyone else there, even go in on weekends sometimes to deal with issues, and work at least an hour or more every evening from home yet me being a few mins late because i was on phone with a customer from home or my car is causing such a big issue. i was discussing this with my friend and she told me to just go to my direct boss (who is this dept’s manager’s boss as well) and tell him that i don’t want the blackberry anymore or at the very least stop answering emails/calls after work. i am just worried that he may think that i am not as committed as he thought i was. what are your thoughts? should i just stop putting in all those extra hours or should i just continue the way i have been and make sure i am on time everyday and not let this dept’s manager get to me?
Re: work related problem
The thing is, no one can SEE you taking these calls or answering e-mails in the morning. However, they can see you coming in late. That's why everyone thinks you're coming and going as you please. I understand that you feel hurt by this, but you should look at the logic and see that they're reacting that way because of what they're seeing and came to a suitable conclusion.
Also, are you a doctor who absolutely has to answer phone calls right away when she's on call?
If not, stop answering phone calls and emails early in the morning. I'm sure whatever it is can wait for an hour until you get to work at 7AM.
Re: work related problem
no i am not a doctor, i failed biology in highschool :s
the thing is, i have my own set of drivers. me waiting an hour to answer a call means a driver has to wait an hour before his problem can be solved. if he calls the terminal it's the same thing (wait till she gets in and then she can help you). i get how they don't see me answering calls/emails but the manager does. he knows the kind of crap i deal with on a daily basis. he is copied in on most emails that i work on so he knows that i am constantly working. most days i stay back at work an extra half hour or more so everyone else sees that too. my own boss never said anything to me. in fact sometimes if i wasn't busy he would tell me to go home early because he would say "you are doing enough as it is". i guess i should just suck it up and hope that this is all over soon so i can get out of his dept ...
Re: work related problem
If they want you to be on time...make sure you're on time. If that means delaying phone calls until you get in to work...so be it.
Re: work related problem
I agree with Reha. Also, being punctual is one of the most important qualities, especially with a job.
Since the manager knows what you've been doing and how that work is causing you to be late in the morning, and still has expressed quite clearly that you be on time, then that's what you have to prioritize.
Perhaps you can be proactive and let him know (politely) that you'll be at work on time, but some issues which have been the reason for your tardiness previously will now have to wait until you get in the office at 7 AM.
I don't know if this is the case, but work places often have their own politics going on. Perhaps other people complained that you were getting special treatment and made the manager feel as if he wasn't really the boss, and so he was pressured into calling you out.
Re: work related problem
From an HR's perspective, I would say you need to read you employment contract. Does it say that you need to attend phone calls, answer emails early morning and work late evenings outside of your working hours? If not, than you dont have to attend these calls till you get to work. If yes, I would suggest have a conversation with your HR manager and discuss what you can do about your new job description and responsibilities and also do let him/her know how its affecting your life outside of work.
Re: work related problem
Rouz,
Your new boss is different than your old boss. Everyone has their own rules and since he is your boss, he can tell you what to do as long as it is not unethical and illegal (which is not in this case).
He plain and simple told you what is important to him, **be at the office at 7:00 AM **everyday. If you want to have peace at work, it means playing by his rules. Yes, maybe it is unfair but you need to get over it quickly for your own sake of sanity. There's more to life than seething over different perspectives and working all the time. Promotions, awards/ recognitions, and excellent pay & benefits are wonderful (there's no denying there) but there's more to life. You're never going to wish you worked more while you're dying or when you face God on judgement day.
Re: work related problem
If yes, I would suggest have a conversation with your HR manager and discuss what you can do about your new job description and responsibilities and also do let him/her know how its affecting your life outside of work.
This may work at BlindHope's company but I've found that HR in a lot of American corporations is there to save a company's Ass, there're not there for the employee. All the work/ life BS that has been going around for the last few years is just that, BS, to avert law suits.
Re: work related problem
This may work at BlindHope's company but I've found that HR in a lot of American corporations is there to save a company's Ass, there're not there for the employee. All the work/ life BS that has been going around for the last few years is just that, BS, to avert law suits.
Exactly! Complaining about it isn't going to fix anything.