#WorkLifeBalance #ManagerSupport #HealthyBoundaries
π« My manager just told everyone to leave her alone. π«
It can be frustrating and confusing when you feel like your manager is sending mixed signals about their availability and boundaries. Feeling like you’re constantly on call without being compensated or appreciated is a common struggle in many workplaces. If you’re in this situation, it’s important to understand the reasons behind your manager’s actions and to consider your options for finding a healthier work environment.
Understanding the Situation
When your manager tells everyone to leave her alone, it can be easy to feel resentful and undervalued. However, it’s important to consider the possible reasons behind her request. It’s possible that she might be feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, and is trying to create some healthy boundaries for herself. Before jumping to conclusions, try to have a conversation with her to understand what’s going on and how you can support her.
Creating Healthy Boundaries
Setting boundaries in the workplace is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your manager’s request to not be bothered outside of work hours might be her way of trying to create a healthier balance for herself. However, it’s important for her to also respect your time and boundaries as well. When discussing this with her, consider suggesting some strategies for creating a more balanced and supportive work environment for everyone.
Finding a New Job
If you feel like your current work environment is not meeting your needs for a healthy work-life balance, it might be time to start looking for a new job. While it can be challenging to find a job that meets all of your criteria, it’s worth exploring your options and considering what’s important for your well-being.
Practicing Self-Care
In the meantime, it’s important to prioritize self-care and set your own boundaries for managing work-related stress. This might include setting specific times for responding to work-related communications, or finding ways to disconnect from work during your time off. Taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining your mental and emotional well-being, especially in a high-stress work environment.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a manager who sends conflicting messages about availability and boundaries can be frustrating. It’s important to try to understand the reasons behind their actions and have open communication about how it’s impacting you. If you’re feeling undervalued and unappreciated, it’s worth considering your options for finding a work environment that supports your well-being. Remember to prioritize self-care and set your own boundaries for managing work-related stress. Ultimately, your well-being should be a top priority in any work environment.
In conclusion, when faced with a manager who tells everyone to leave her alone, it’s important to consider the reasons behind their actions, have open communication about boundaries, and prioritize self-care while considering your options for finding a healthier work environment. Remember that your well-being should always be a top priority, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself in the workplace.
Screenshot the text and send it back to her whenever she messages you during off time.
Sounds like work refusal to me.
Why do you still respond to work stuff when youβre not at work?
I work customer service as well, and outside of my immediate coworkers (5 of us total), I will not respond after work hours or on my day off. The exception is if my teammate needs coverage. Or if it’s an FYI message about something going on. I will acknowledge those messages so they know I have seen it (I do not answer a call outside of my shift and they know text is always the way). It’s not unreasonable to be unavailable outside your shift. Unless it is a text about coverage or information about something that happened, do not respond and act as if you have ignored the message until normal for you business hours. If it is not an urgent message, just remind them, next business hours, that you have seen the message and will not respond to anything when you are off the clock. It takes time to establish the boundaries, but they will get the hint.
Stop responding
Whatβs her number? Lol
Next time she contacts you outside of working hours, say “You requested we not contact you outside of working hours which I can commit to. Given our difference in title and salary I would kindly request the same courtesy.”
Stop answering calls and texts outside of your normal working hours. Stop letting her take advantage of you. She’s absolutely wrong for contacting you outside of your working hours, but you need to stop covering shifts all the time (I’m not saying to *never* cover, just to not always be available when it’s not convenient for you), and stop continuously responding to calls and texts at home.
If you believe that you will be fired if you just suddenly stop doing all that, then do it more gradually. If she gets annoyed or seems surprised and brings it up with you, just let her know that she called/texted during your time off, and you were busy. Don’t give her any info about what you were supposedly busy with, that’s none of her business.
Send that shit to corporate.
Sounds more like shes the sane one and you are making excuses about why you decide to give your personal time to your company.
As a manager Iβve only asked my crew to not text or call me four times. I still got texts that were not emergencies during three of them. I didnβt answer them. I make a point to leave people alone on their days off. I donβt give two shits if your manager is burned out. If youβre off work, put her on do not disturb or start turning in time to answer shit that could be answered during business hours.
next time she texts you while she’s not working, don’t get back to her until she’s on shift again and use her own words as the reason why
“But no, I am the one who covers shifts when no one else will, and the one who is continuously responding to calls and texts at home.”
Step 1. Stop doing this.
Part of the reason people are paid more as managers is because they have to be available outside of work hours (speaking as someone who was a movie theater manager for six years) even if that just means answering their phone. If someone canβt commit to that, they should not be a manager.
Message back that you’re going to follow her lead and these are the hours you will not be bothered….. Ex. Sunday – Saturday 5:30p-8:30a
The only answer here is to adjust your own work life balance.
I was in a similar situation at my last job. Had someone being groomed to take over my position that did less work than me, never showed up on time, never covered, and only wanted to work the good shifts (no weekends and holidays, very few nights). If your bosses are allowing this then they’re assholes.
I’d do two things. One start looking for a new job. Two, go to your bosses and make an issue out of this. Tell them you’re not going to outwork a manager for less pay. Set your availability to be less. And only do explicitly what is on your job description. No more covering. If they want you to go above and beyond they can pay you for it.
She gets paid more money not out of charity, but because there’s more responsibilities expected of her. If she can’t handle the responsibilities, she needs to step down from the job. I get so annoyed with these managers who always act overwhelmed (and maybe in some instances they are), and use it as an excuse to not do their job correctly leaving the rest of the team having to jump through hoops to compensate for the managerial inadequacies.Β
Would respond βI expect this will be reciprocated on my days off?β
Unless sheβs salary sheβs well within her right. And you should do the same
Stop responding unless youβre at work. Look for something better.
Stop responding
βIβm so glad you said something, I feel exactly the same way. I am so glad we are both on the same page about this! What a relief! Iβll make sure not to bother you for anything but emergencies from now on! :Dβ
I’d just take this as new company policy, and begin ignoring all texts outside of work hours. If questioned, point to this message and say you assumed it applied to everyone since it seems like such a logical request.
Yeah, stop doing work stuff while not at work, including responding to texts! Just STOP! Period.
This manager sounds like Jenelle Evans
I had one supervisor try to complain about not answering when she called. I stated that the phone for work was not my personal phone. I turn off my work phone ringer as soon as off work, and I donβt give out my personal phone number.
Since she doesn’t want to be bothered, you should not reply to anything she sends after hours. You’re just following instructions.