Am I a Bad Emplyee?
By netpabelonio
@netpabelonio (99)
Philippines
June 21, 2009 1:39pm CST
My line of work is really stressfull... I work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week in bad shifting schedules. I often cannot enjoy the luxury of breaks in the office because we're short on people. I only have 1 day off and I don't have any complains with that. In fact, I could deal with everything I've mentioned earlier. I just find it really annoying everytime my supervisor calls or texts me during my rest day to ask about work!!! I make sure I finish everything before I leave the office. That's why I hate it whenever someone from works contacts me when I'm off the clock.
Am I being a bad employee here? AM I obligated to take my work at home??
1 person likes this
12 responses
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
21 Jun 09
No, you are not being a bad employee by being annoyed about the calls and texts. In fact, your supervisor is being a bad supervisor by contacting you when you arent on the clock!
Working 6 days a week, every week gets really old. Really fast. So you really do need that time to yourself to relax and to keep your stress level down.
I wouldnt respond to any of the texts and calls from your supervisor. In fact, I would talk to them next time you are at work. Explain that you do your best at work and in order to do your best you need to have some time to yourself. If they keep contacting you on your off time, it may begin to affect your work. That might help it sink in.
Good luck, I hope the situation gets better for you!
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
21 Jun 09
thanks... :) i actually want to do everything that you guys have suggested me... I'm just really clueless on the approach I'll be using to get through my supervisor... I don't wanna seem like I'm whining on the job because I lile what I'm doing. It's just really stressful sometimes.
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
21 Jun 09
that's very funny derlilaStern.. :) I'll keep that in mind.. thank you :D
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
21 Jun 09
Is your supervisor there when your shift is over? Perhaps you could talk to them after you have finished work for the day but before you go home. That way you wont seem like you are wasting time at work. Just be sure to keep the conversation short so that you can get home!
@Tayudo (115)
• Peru
22 Jun 09
well, in america all people work most of 10 hours, and the politic can't do anythin or they doesn't want to do something, i work with a lawyer, he wins a lot of money and accord with the laws of my country he must give us a percentaje of all his anual profits, but he looking for any laws and he don't pay nothing, but he ask for more works, he don't care if you have family or other comitmens.
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
i think that's already a different story. You should talk to your boss about that. Or if you can't.. at least approach the human resources department about it... If you think he's not obiding by the law then you have all the right to stand up for it.. especially if you know you're doing great in your job.
Good luck Tayudo. thanks for sharing.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
21 Jun 09
No, you are not. You are off the clock after you done your 8 hours duty. So, don't blame yourself. You are good and dedicated employee. Don't frustrated by not answering someone's call after you finish your shift. It is your own private hours, and you should be able to enjoy it. Talk your superior if you want to. We all deserve a piece of privacy on our own.
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
21 Jun 09
thank you so much for the encouraging words. :) I think I have a problem too.. I have this attitude of always wanting to get the jonb done. Maybe this is also why I can't say NO whenever it happens... :(
I want to learn how to deal with this though... How can I tell my boss in the lightest way possible that I don't want them rattling me about work during my day off?
@HelScream (2822)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
no you are not being irresponsible it right to react that way and if I was in your place you better turn off your cellphone or tell your family not to answer the phone while your at your vacation or day off in this way you wont face that stress every time you have your day off.
@JamieRose (168)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
I know how you feel, and I've been in that situation. You're not a bad employee, and YOU ARE NOT obliged to take work at home. That's why its called a rest day, you should be resting and be freeing yourself from work! I don't know if you like your job, but because of this situation, I resigned from that job. There are lots of work out there who will respect your "me" time. Do your job well when your in the office. But if even at home you'll be bringing it with you during that one day you'll have your resting time, think twice if its really worth it. Life is not just about your job, dear. But if you can't resign, what I recommend is to change your contact number, or have 2. One number for the office, one number for personal use. When its your day off, TURN OFF the working contact number. You deserve a break.
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
Hi JamieRose. Thank you for responding. :) I do love my job that's I don;t like leaving the office if my work's not finished. I like your suggestion though... Having two set of phone numbers could really be useful. :) at least by this way, I could filter the people who contacts me.
@netpabelonio (99)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
hahaha! I guess that's the simplest way you could put it... :) This is clever... Thanks HUcheng.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
That is why you are given a day to rest is to allow you to be yourself on that day. That is why your boss should respect that since it is your time and he should not interfere with you on that day. Well I think you could tell him that you will work on that on Monday once you are at office but right now you cannot do that because it is your day off and you are attending to something. I guess your boss would understand that.
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
22 Jun 09
I am also work long hours and only 1 day off too. I hate when someone call me about work when im off from work. On my day off, I just want to be quiet and peaceful and relax from work... so please dont talk about work or call me.
sometimes, your manager is just can't finish work with you or others... he/she is still keep think and try to make sure you done your work on time. I dont understand about that either... but you can talk to him or her... and another way is turn off ur phone.
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
Perhaps they can request you for an overtime, working on your day off but still you who will decide if you'll take it. It's okey, however if they are just calling you on your off time to clear something about the work you'd left.
@cbjones (1147)
• United States
22 Jun 09
You'r obligated to do your job. They are obligated to get off your back and let you rest. You are obligated to not have to worry about baby sitting assignments that are not assigned to you. They are obligated to not have your home phone.
You are obligated to change the locks in the current dwelling. They are obligated to not bang down your door in the middle of the night for no reason. You are obligated to live your life, sans annoyance. Good luck with having that last one work out for you, I've no luck with it thus far either.
@siewching_0908 (257)
• Malaysia
22 Jun 09
I don't think you are a bad employee by ignoring text and smses from bosses when we're off the clock. That's our personal time, and we should be able to do anything that we want and get away from work. If It happen once a while, I can still deal with it. However, if my boss call me everytime when I am off, then I will talk to her.
