Remote work comes with its own version of workplace pressure. Sometimes, it is not the workload itself that becomes difficult, but the constant expectation to stay available. One employee says their workday has reached that point after spending several hours on calls with their manager almost every day.The employee said they work remotely and generally enjoy their job, but the amount of time spent speaking to their manager has started affecting their productivity. They are now wondering whether the issue should be taken to HR, even though they do not want to leave the company.
Nearly 15 hours of calls in two days
The employee said some conversations with the manager are necessary for work. However, they claimed many calls continue even when there is no specific work discussion taking place.
‘She’s making me miserable’
They shared details of two recent days, saying, “Over the last two days, I have spent almost 15 hours talking to her: Yesterday: 7 hours 21 minutes on Teams. Today: 5 hours 43 minutes on Teams plus 1 hour 53 minutes on the phone.”According to the employee, the manager often remains on the call while they work and talks about personal matters.“She’ll talk about random personal stuff, send me pictures of things she wants to buy, etc. It feels less like a meeting and more like I have someone sitting next to me talking all day.”The employee said the constant conversations leave them with less time and focus for their own work.
Employee says manager also seeks their opinion
The employee said the relationship has also developed into a situation where the manager frequently asks them for feedback on her decisions.“She’s my manager, but somehow I’ve become the person she needs feedback from on everything too. The problem is that she’s pretty insecure and emotional, so I’m worried that trying to set boundaries is going to turn into a whole thing,” they said.This has made the employee hesitant to directly ask for more space during the workday.
‘By the end of the day I’m completely fried’
The employee said the long calls are now affecting their productivity and leaving them exhausted.“I just cannot keep spending 6-8 hours a day on the phone with one person. By the end of the day I’m completely fried and it’s obviously taking a toll on my productivity. Is this something I can reasonably bring to HR? If so, how should I approach this?”Despite the problem, the employee said they did not want to leave the company because they considered the job a dream setup apart from their manager.Their concern was whether HR should be involved or whether they should try to deal with the situation themselves.
Social media users share their experiences
The post prompted several users to share their own views.One user wrote, “This is very unprofessional and a cause for concern. You are not simply being exploited but also forced to work in a very toxic environment.”Another shared a similar experience with their boss, saying, “Is your boss my boss? Mine was my equal up until a month and a half ago. I had multi-hour calls with her on an almost daily basis. There was a time that we were on a Teams call starting early in the morning and past midnight.”A third user suggested approaching the manager’s boss.“She sounds unstable and toxic. I doubt it is possible to regulate her. Unfortunately, the only sure way is out. There is another way – talking to her boss. There is some likelihood that they will see that she is useless and remove her altogether. But it is a risky road.”Another user suggested filling part of the schedule with other meetings to reduce the manager’s availability to the employee.“Set up other meetings. For the first week or so, I’d legitimately set other meetings with other colleagues/clients for four-plus hours a day. Get her used to the cadence, then back off with the other meetings.”For the employee, the problem comes down to finding a way to reduce the constant calls without giving up a job they otherwise want to keep. Whether they choose to set boundaries with their manager or approach HR remains the question they are now trying to answer.Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared in a social media post and responses from users. The views expressed in the post and comments belong to the respective individuals. Times of India does not independently verify the claims or opinions expressed.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)
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