I imagine a lot of us are cubicle monkeys.
Picking up colleagues' telephones...
- Thread starter Jim Gamma
- Start date
Has it always been that way? I know in the UK that more and more organisations are moving to cube farms but that shift has occured over time, has it always been that way or has there been a shift?
Cubicles were introduced in the '60s and have gradually taken over as the de facto corporate office paradigm, often replacing permanent offices and (especially) open-office designs.
^And another horrible example of designers and upper management being out of touch with the realities of working life.
She has a little rolley cart that she takes from classroom to classroom.
All I'm saying is that if you know it's someone's phone, and someone else has picked up, it's OBVIOUS that the person you've called isn't available.
Sorry but it doesn't sound like an unreasonable question. If I'm calling for a specific person, I'm going to ask if they're around. If they're not, I'll leave a message or call back.
If the call went to voicemail, then it's OBVIOUS they're not available to pick-up, but if someone else does, then maybe they just ran to the restroom or for a cup of coffee?
In situations where multiple people are likely to be talking on the phone simultaneously you'd think open communication would be considered a negative rather than a positive...
I share an office with my co-worker, and calls transfer to each others' phones if we don't pick up.
He's much more willing to put his phone on Send All Calls than I am, which is slightly irritating since my phone rings with calls for him. I've grown increasingly more willing to in turn bounce his calls back to his voice-mail without picking up. Sometimes it means he misses a call he would have answered immediately...well, TS for him.
I did once get lightly chided by my manager after I told an employee that I'd get to her project as soon as I could but was a bit swamped at present (month-end reporting), and they in turn called my manager to helpfully suggest that I shouldn't be telling people I can't assist them immediately. He in turn suggested to me that if I really am that busy I should put my own phone on Send All. I've never quite gotten to the point of taking that as carte blanche to leave my phone on Send All 24/7...
I share an office with my co-worker, and calls transfer to each others' phones if we don't pick up.
He's much more willing to put his phone on Send All Calls than I am, which is slightly irritating since my phone rings with calls for him. I've grown increasingly more willing to in turn bounce his calls back to his voice-mail without picking up. Sometimes it means he misses a call he would have answered immediately...well, TS for him.
I did once get lightly chided by my manager after I told an employee that I'd get to her project as soon as I could but was a bit swamped at present (month-end reporting), and they in turn called my manager to helpfully suggest that I shouldn't be telling people I can't assist them immediately. He in turn suggested to me that if I really am that busy I should put my own phone on Send All. I've never quite gotten to the point of taking that as carte blanche to leave my phone on Send All 24/7...
Which is funny, since research has shown open-office designs are actually less communicative. In fact, it's why cubicles became popular in the first place. What is old is new again, I guess.
I work in an office like that, although we do have to communicate almost constantly, so it is actually helpful. Also we all have our backs to the wall, so nobody can look over your shoulder.
On the other hand, it also means I have to listen to my boss all day, who never stops singing or tapping the desk, or talking to himself.
Uhm.. why?
I don't know about your workplace but i'd get a kick in the ass if my boss would see me doing something else why my colleagues phone would ring repeatedly. In every workplace i've ever worked it is expected from us to pick up a ringing phone (i.e. transfer the call to your own phone) and see who's there. It's either a colleague wanting something or more important our customers.. even if we can't help them we inform them that the person is not here and maybe we can help out. If we can't we pass on what it's about to the person when he/she returns.
I don't see the problem at all.. personally i get very frustrated when i call someone repeatedly and no one answers even though i know there's other people in the room.
Nick, in what way did I imply I thought I was superior?
All I'm saying is that if you know it's someone's phone, and someone else has picked up, it's OBVIOUS that the person you've called isn't available.
Not necessarily
"Frances, can you answer? The damn mail cart is blocking my way and I'm excepting my son to call about my new grandkid. I'll run around that cubcile"
I never said I actually helped them when I answered the phone... I was the perfect receptionist in that regard. Polite, well-spoken and completely and utterly unhelpful. That's why it was fun.
Nick, in what way did I imply I thought I was superior?
All I'm saying is that if you know it's someone's phone, and someone else has picked up, it's OBVIOUS that the person you've called isn't available.
No it isn't. But what is obvious to me is that you are having difficulty seeing past your own perception of the situation. Hence my comment.
I have no difficulty seeing past "my own perspective". This is something that I just find really obvious - if someone other than the person you've rung picks up, obviously there's a reason for it. Asking "Is X there?" just seems pointless. Isn't it better to say something like "Could I leave a message for X?" - That way, if X happens to be (as pointed out above) just running round a tea-trolley to get to the phone, the person who picks up can say "He/she's just on his way back, hold on a moment, please."
^no. It's not. 
1. Phones often are shared. The coworker might be across the room.
2. Many people use a cell for work. The coworker might have left the cell on someone else's desk or the table in the breakroom.
3. A coworker might be using someone else's computer because it had a program that isn't in his computer and asked the other person to answer to see who it is and walk over if it's important or whatever.
4. Oh yeah, and what are they supposed to do once a coworker responses. Most people won't know if they have the right person by voice alone, especially if they don't know the person well or at all. So that why they ask....
1. Phones often are shared. The coworker might be across the room.
2. Many people use a cell for work. The coworker might have left the cell on someone else's desk or the table in the breakroom.
3. A coworker might be using someone else's computer because it had a program that isn't in his computer and asked the other person to answer to see who it is and walk over if it's important or whatever.
4. Oh yeah, and what are they supposed to do once a coworker responses. Most people won't know if they have the right person by voice alone, especially if they don't know the person well or at all. So that why they ask....
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I would never answer someone else's phone here. I've never seen anyone else do it, either. We all have our own phones with direct numbers. We all have voicemail. Each group has an email distribution list so a whole support group can be contacted at once that way. I think there's just no reason to answer someone else's phone. The person calling is usually smart enough to figure out that if X doesn't answer, they should call Y and that'll probably work.
