Bring popcorn! ;)

[graculus]

Back at working one job again instead of trying to juggle two, and I'm heading inexorably for a showdown of some kind with the admin manager where I'm currently based. Roll on my move to My Proper Office, which is supposed to be happening some time when they finish cleaning up from the people who were in there last...

Anyway, this is what the current toe-to-toe is likely to be about: my mobile phone. This mobile phone is mine, it was bought by me for the purpose of being available for emergencies should I break down as a result of the extra driving I'm doing (particularly since some of it is through windy country lanes) and I turn it on a) when I want to phone someone, or b) about once a fortnight, whichever comes sooner.

Yesterday and Monday I had meetings elsewhere as my first appointment of the morning two days running and when I got to those places, it was to discover that the meetings had been cancelled, both times. *shrugs* I'm not worried about that, it happens, and these meetings were only 15 minutes from the office. However, the control freak admin manager seems to think I should be giving them my personal mobile number because the world would come to an end if I got somewhere and a meeting had been cancelled and they couldn't call me and let me know!!!111!!!!

Considering that I wouldn't have my phone on when I was driving (in the unlikely event I was going to switch it on that day...), I was going straight to these meetings and both of them got cancelled about the time I would have been either there or almost there, I really don't see the point. Also, my phone. They want a contact number for me in these kind of situations, they can buy me a mobile phone and a handsfree kit and that'll be another matter entirely.

The most amusing part of this is that every time she has a problem with something and wants wants me to do something in particular about it (which only succeeds if she catches me in the right mood), she emails me even if I'm in the same building rather than pick up the phone and call my extension. Chickenshit. ;)

Comments

[lovellama.livejournal.com]

They shouldn't have your personal phone # to call you about work stuff. :P on them

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Oh, and she's copied the email to the manager who's supposed to be supervising me... yes, I will quail in terror at this! Not. ;)

[obelix]

LOL

Control freaks are so much fun to toy with ;-)

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately (for them) I've been around long enough to know there really isn't much they can actually do to me about this - there's no clause in my contract, for example, that says I have to even have a mobile phone, let alone give them the number.

At my last job I didn't have one, and eventually work bought us all phones. I doubt I'd have bought one in the first place if I lived closer to where I'm working...

And yes, it's like shooting fish in a barrel! ;)

[cycnus39]

You scary.

And don't forget the usefulness of miblie phones while in the BM!

[cycnus39]

Miblie :-D No it's not after midnight and I'm not so tired I'm going cross-eyed...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

:P

[amycooper.livejournal.com]

Agreed. If they want to be able to contact you via cell phone, they should either buy you a cell phone or make an agreement to re-emburse you for the change of all there calls.

[rhade-rad.livejournal.com]

I'm with the "if they want to contact you at all times they pay for the phone" group. Particularly as she sounds like the kind of idiot who would hand out your mobile number to anyone who asked. [And I'm sure you know how to play the "but that would endanger the safety of the single woman living alone especially in this profession" card.]

I'd also set up the back plan: give her number to any meetings' organisers and tell them to contact her if they cancel. Tell her to ring you at home in those, and only those, circumstances. If you're there then you'll know. If you're not there you're on your way in.

If you want to freak her out try the "but I have my business cards/contact details so if anything happens to me the police will know you're the one to contact."

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Considering I leave home before 8am and the office doesn't open till 8.30am, by which time I'll already be driving to work or wherever I'm supposed to be, it's all a bit moot really...

I'm also considering using the 'but I'd be driving and I couldn't answer the phone then, because that would be breaking the law!' line as well, at some point. ;)

[cynonymous.livejournal.com]

Here via friendsfriends to ask -- what would be more entertaining, refusing to give her your cell phone number, or her having the number and finding your phone is *always* *off* when she tries to call you? In the first case, it's a one-shot chance to thwart her; in the second case, she gets frustrated every time she tries to call you.

If it's the principle of the thing, or if you're worried about the number being widely circulated, then yeah, tell her your cell phone number is off limits. If you're looking to maximize the entertainment value, on the other hand...

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I didn't realise I had so many evil options to choose from! Must ponder this, though it's been incredibly entertaining to see that the control freak doesn't say anything to my face... ;)

[sazandra.livejournal.com]

They want a contact number for me in these kind of situations, they can buy me a mobile phone and a handsfree kit

Absolutely.
Almost all of our managers at work have work mobiles, and a few of the admin staff too, because they spend so much time going to meetings around the county or working in various locations etc. I refuse to add personal mobile numbers to my contact info for staff, but all work mobiles are on there.

Last week when my head of service asked does so and so have a mobile, I said no. Head of service then asked does the person have a personal mobile, I said not that I know of. I saw the particular member of staff on the bus to work the next day and did mention the conversation - she admited she does have a person mobile phone but doesn't use it for work and doesn't want a work mobile. If somebody wants a work mobile and their manager agrees there's no problem getting them one.

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

When I joined this job they kindly offered to port my number across to the work phone. Yeah, that'll happen. I have a work mobile and a personal mobile. People think I'm strange because I carry both around with me when I go to work. It amazes me that I actually have to explain: When I finish work, I turn my work mobile off. I am never going to get a phone call from work in the evening, at the weekend or when I'm on holiday. If someone tries to ring me at those times, they can leave a message - I'll get back to them when I'm good and ready during work hours.