When the Water Cooler Is a Perk

I began a new job last fall, coming off a very stressful work environment. A particular issue I faced was having to use my personal cellphone as my work phone. I changed jobs because I wanted a healthier work environment, but my new supervisor, who can be kind and understanding, lacks the ability to maintain professional boundaries.

Occasionally, after Zoom meetings, she will call me, to “go over” or “break down” the meeting we were just in. Am I crazy, or is this not OK? I’ve always thought it was important to respect people’s schedules, and if you have a certain topic you’d like to discuss, send them an email, or ask when they have time in the future to set up a meeting.

Phone calls are a common occurrence now, regarding a wide range of issues. Sometimes I’ll receive two to four in a day. Almost every single phone call could be an email. How do I politely ask to have my supervisor stop calling me and texting me? I worry this request might not go over well, as remote working life has potentially blurred the communication lines. We don’t have Slack, or another messaging platform unfortunately.

Logically I know I have a valid stance to request that we only communicate via email unless it is an emergency, but I am struggling to find the words. I have some co-workers I do communicate with via text message, but those folks seem to have a better grasp on boundaries. I don’t know how to ask for something that would only apply to my boss, and fear insulting her.

— Anonymous

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/business/roxane-gay-work-advice-water-cooler.html