There are 4 benefit technicians in our office. Its a rotating phone line for members to call in..... If you aren't "logged in" the only way a message can be left is if someone calls your direct line --- Hence, when gets a messages its for a problem that he/she is directly exclusively involved in.

My boss makes all of us keep each others passwords and REPEATEDLY walks around the office and if she sees a red light on the phone (message left) for someone who is out sick she will ask one of us to check it.

When I have checked voicemails for my coworker --- there were times when my boss has GONE BEHIND MY BACK anyway to listen to all the messages I would skip to make sure that I was actually doing the work. (yes, she micromanages like that.)

We had a discrepanacy because if someone says "this is jon brown, please call me back" I simply refuse to call these people and say "hi this is X calling from X --- um, did you leave a work related message on X's machine, and if so, how can I help you" I assume it is personal, and I skip it.

----I mean, to me, thats totally excessive, inefficient, and over-the-top, when I have SO much of my own work to do! Even if they are work-related, by the time I put my nose in and get all the facts and info --- its put me back in my own work, and its usually nothing that couldn't wait till the person comes back in the next day!!! Its just inefficient to get someone involved this way ----

opinions?


Is it me --- or is she nuts?????????

Depends how much you get paid. Like if they underpay you already I would talk to my boss saying this isn't my job to call people about unrealated messages.

Is this communication interception related to security, or is this your private stuff?

She does sound like she like to be in "control" and seems to confirm this with her actions. (seems a bit excessive to me)

I don't think you want to hear this...but.

You are at work. When you are at work, you are being paid to do what you are told. Period.
If they want you to do things a certain way...do it that way.

You may not agree with management, but while you are at work your time is THEIRS. They can ask you to clean toilets if they wanted to. And fire you for refusing to do so.(legally)

Her management style may be over the top, but if you still want to work there, you would be wise to do exactly as you are told.