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Manager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously Complies
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Manager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously Complies

Manager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously CompliesHealthcare Manager Insists All Employee Phone Calls Have To Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously CompliesHealthcare Employees Complied When Manager Asked Them To Redirect All Emergency Calls To Her, Manager Realized It Was A Big MistakeStaff Makes Manager Regret Her Decision After She Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours And Insists All Calls Go Through HerStaff Maliciously Complies With Healthcare Manager’s Insistence On All Employee Phone Calls Going Through HerHealthcare Employees Maliciously Comply With A New No Phone Rule And Give Out Manager’s Direct Work Line To Call, She Regrets It The Next DayHealthcare Manager Realizes It Was A Big Mistake To Tell Staff That All Emergency Calls Would Be Redirected To Her, As The Employees CompliedManager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously CompliesManager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously CompliesManager Bans Mobile Phones During Work Hours, Insists All Calls Go Through Her, Staff Maliciously Complies
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Working in the healthcare sector is arguably one of the most difficult and responsible fields of occupation out there. People taking up roles in healthcare are contributing to preserving and saving human lives, which is incredibly honorable, but stressful nonetheless. Because of that, it is probably fairly stressful for the workers in the field to encounter people or rules that make their job more difficult. And even though that applies to most occupations, healthcare workers have to deal with illness, life and death on top of it all. Today’s story is dedicated to all healthcare workers who protect our lives.

Although healthcare is a field that is dedicated to human wellbeing, it inevitably has management issues in certain places, which affects the staff. Such managers typically act in a way that is fueled by their entitlement that hinders the effectiveness and liveliness of the working environment. Thankfully, sometimes these managers get a taste of their own medicine via good old-fashioned malicious compliance from the workers. The Reddit post from which today’s post originates gathered 17.8k upvotes and prompted 525 comments. Scroll down to find out the whole story!

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    This healthcare workplace decided to take away employees’ phones completely during working hours

    Image credits: Paul Sableman

    Phones are ubiquitous nowadays and we have become increasingly reliant on their fast-paced communication ability, which in itself isn’t a bad thing, especially when it comes to discussing important things in life or getting in touch during emergencies. That is why even healthcare workers, when not busy, will check their phones just in case, but most certainly not at all times. However, at one particular workplace, during a meeting, it was decided that phones were not going to be used at work at all.

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    The Original Poster explains that phones are not used much where they work, but one meeting took away phones altogether

    Image Credits: asht*t

    It is understandable that due to WHS (workplace health and safety), phone usage is to be reduced to a minimum, which is what the Original Poster (OP) pretty much agrees with. They also explain that phones are only used when they’re not busy or during breaks, which sounds like it doesn’t intervene with their work. However, during a meeting it was decided that phones are too distracting and against policy, and they would only be used out of the unit or off hospital grounds.

    The hospital workers, including OP, were not happy about such a change, as some actually needed the constant line of communication for various reasons

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    Image Credits: asht*t

    In OP’s opinion, being completely denied use of phones was an overreaction, even though they are against policy, but the issue still lies in the fact that it is complete denial of communication with the outside world. The meeting even went so far into the phone “problem” that someone said that if issues back home were that bad, the workers shouldn’t even be at work, which is obviously horrendous. Denying people of communication with the outside world altogether means that during emergencies or important occasions, workers will stay uninformed, which would eventually add to even more stress and won’t be beneficial for either the workers, or the hospital, so the new rule doesn’t make much sense.

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    This is where the malicious compliance begins—the manager said that if workers were unhappy with the new rule, they could direct all calls to her

    Image Credits: asht*t

    The manager, obviously out of touch, suggested that those who are unhappy with the new rule could just give her contacts to all relevant people so the calls could go to her instead. It is actually surprising how she thought that this was a good idea, since the workers gave loads of contacts and informed them to call for pretty much any reason, which made the phone ring non-stop. This is certainly a great and effective way to curb unnecessary workplace tyranny.

    As it turns out, taking away the workers’ phones wasn’t that great an idea, as more time was wasted than saved

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    Image Credits: asht*t

    The manager began receiving numerous calls, which is obviously not great, because she had to run around informing people instead of doing her job, whilst interrupting other people’s work. Hospital workers were later informed to tell their home contacts to stop calling the manager and that they could use their phones during breaks. Since it took time for everyone to get the memo, the phone kept ringing for a couple more days, which finally proved that the whole thing was a bad idea.

    The comments were highly supportive of the malicious compliance-style resistance

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    All in all, as the last comment points out, managing a workplace is not the same as managing a kindergarten, as management is in fact dealing with adults who know the rules and actually just do their work. It is also good to see what clever collective action can achieve when conditions at work are unfair.

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    Žygimantas Snarskis

    Žygimantas Snarskis

    Writer, Community member

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    Žygimantas is a Bored Panda writer and content creator. He has recently graduated with a degree in Journalism & Communications from Cardiff University and has a professional background in Public Relations. During his spare time Žygimantas makes electronic music, codes, tinkers with electronics and aspires to be a great bass player.

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    Žygimantas Snarskis

    Žygimantas Snarskis

    Writer, Community member

    Žygimantas is a Bored Panda writer and content creator. He has recently graduated with a degree in Journalism & Communications from Cardiff University and has a professional background in Public Relations. During his spare time Žygimantas makes electronic music, codes, tinkers with electronics and aspires to be a great bass player.

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
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    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think most grown adults are able to monitor their phone use in the workplace in an acceptable way. If you treat people like children, they are just going to act like children.

    LuckyL
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not even able to manage my internet use in an acceptable way while working ;) Hello boredpanda

    Load More Replies...
    NsG
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... How is checking your phone while on a (presumably unpaid) lunch break meant to create a WHS issue?

    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm guessing it's due to infection control. The amount of germs and bacteria on your phone is astounding. They should be thoroughly cleaning their hands everytime they touch their phone anyway. Either with soap and water or alcohol sanitiser.

    Load More Replies...
    Evil Little Thing
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To thar one poster that forgot about the 30 years between viable single income families being common and widespread mobile phone usage, Gen-X says hi.

    Giin
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, my area it would take someone making $44/hr for a single income family, or a second job to make up whatever shortfall. Tis a shame. Luckily, my wife abhors the thought of not working, so it's never been concern for us 😂

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Jo Choto
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think most grown adults are able to monitor their phone use in the workplace in an acceptable way. If you treat people like children, they are just going to act like children.

    LuckyL
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not even able to manage my internet use in an acceptable way while working ;) Hello boredpanda

    Load More Replies...
    NsG
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... How is checking your phone while on a (presumably unpaid) lunch break meant to create a WHS issue?

    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm guessing it's due to infection control. The amount of germs and bacteria on your phone is astounding. They should be thoroughly cleaning their hands everytime they touch their phone anyway. Either with soap and water or alcohol sanitiser.

    Load More Replies...
    Evil Little Thing
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To thar one poster that forgot about the 30 years between viable single income families being common and widespread mobile phone usage, Gen-X says hi.

    Giin
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, my area it would take someone making $44/hr for a single income family, or a second job to make up whatever shortfall. Tis a shame. Luckily, my wife abhors the thought of not working, so it's never been concern for us 😂

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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