2 weeks ago
Employee on 8-Hour Daily Video Calls Considers HR Complaint
A person who works from home says their boss makes them talk on video calls for almost the whole workday, about six to eight hours every day.
The boss talks about personal things and sends pictures of things she wants to buy.
The worker feels exhausted and does not have time to get their own work done.
They really like their job and do not want to quit, but the long calls are making them miserable.
The boss also asks the worker for advice on almost every decision.
The worker is afraid that asking for more space would upset the boss, who they say is insecure and emotional.
Now they are asking if they can report the problem to HR, the people who handle issues at work.
People who read the story online said the situation sounds toxic and unfair.
Some said to talk to the boss's own manager, while others suggested filling the calendar with other meetings or finding a new job.
A remote employee says their manager keeps them on video and phone calls for six to eight hours daily, leaving them exhausted.
Over two days the employee logged nearly 15 hours on calls: 7h21m on Teams one day, then 5h43m on Teams plus 1h53m on the phone the next.
Most calls are not work-related, with the manager chatting about personal topics, sending pictures of items she wants to buy, and outsourcing managerial decisions to the employee.
The employee loves the job but is wondering whether the situation can reasonably be brought to HR and how to approach it.
Commenters called the environment toxic and suggested taking the issue to upper management, filling the calendar with other meetings, or leaving.
- Who
- An unnamed remote employee, their manager, and two other workers in the same department.
- What
- The manager keeps the employee on video and phone calls for 6-8 hours daily, prompting the employee to ask whether they can report the situation to HR.
- Where
- A remote work setting, with calls conducted via Microsoft Teams and phone.
- When
- Reported by the employee in a recent social media post, describing nearly 15 hours of calls over the two previous days.
- Why
- The constant calls leave the employee exhausted, hurt their productivity, and create fear of setting boundaries with a manager described as insecure and emotional.
Escalate the issue
Proceed cautiously or leave
Reporting the manager to HR
Escalate the issue
The employee asks whether spending 6-8 hours daily on calls with one person is something they can reasonably bring to HR and how to approach it.
Proceed cautiously or leave
The employee fears that trying to set boundaries will 'turn into a whole thing' because the manager is 'insecure and emotional.'
Best way to resolve the situation
Escalate the issue
Commenters call the environment unprofessional and toxic and urge taking the matter to upper management; one suggested the manager's boss might see she is 'useless' and remove her.
Proceed cautiously or leave
One commenter called going over the manager's head 'a risky road' and said the only sure way out is leaving; another suggested setting up other meetings for four-plus hours a day to get her used to the cadence.
Key facts
- Work arrangement
- Remote
- Department size
- Employee, manager, and two other workers
- Daily call duration
- 6-8 hours
- Calls over two reported days
- Nearly 15 hours (14 hours 57 minutes)
- Day one (Teams)
- 7 hours 21 minutes
- Day two (Teams)
- 5 hours 43 minutes
- Day two (phone)
- 1 hour 53 minutes
- Employee's stated concern
- Damage to productivity and fear manager will react badly to boundaries
Quotes
Social Media User
An online user expressing concern over the manager’s behavior.
“"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."”
news18.com
NDTV
“"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"”
news18.com
Sources
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