Personal calls during work hours?

[MaineDolFan]

 I'm not talking about a call to the wife to say "what do you want for dinner tonight."  I'm talking about the 15-20 minute, kind of loud, actual conversation.

What are your general thoughts about personal calls during work hours?

[SCFinfan]

They're a no-no, unless there's an emergency.

One exception: If there really is nothing to do, and nothing to plan for/get ready for, I can understand someone going out of the building (and the earshot of his co-workers) to talk on the phone for a while. But how often does anyone have literally nothing to do? And still, even if you can't be busy, do you want to give the appearance of laziness? I know I don't.

[Fau Teixeira]

i have no restrictions against it .. i can call whomever whenever i want and for how long i want .. as long as the work is done at the end of the day no-one gives a crap

[Buddhagirl]

i have no restrictions against it .. i can call whomever whenever i want and for how long i want .. as long as the work is done at the end of the day no-one gives a crap

Same here. I also chat all day and text all day. If my work is done my boss doesn't care. I do take my calls outside though. I don't want to be distracting.

[SportsChick]

it's the only time I have if I need to make a doctor appt or the like. Their office hours suck most of the time - 9-noon; lunch 12-2, 2-5. Well I work 8:30 to 5:30

[Phishfan]

I would find it hypocritical if anyone has complaints about other's personal calls (other than the possible noise distraction) if they visit this site during the same periods of time.

[Dave Gray]

i have no restrictions against it .. i can call whomever whenever i want and for how long i want .. as long as the work is done at the end of the day no-one gives a crap

I live by this as well.  I even take it a step further for my employees.  You can do whatever you want, within reason, in terms of slacking time, days off, sleeping in, vacations, long lunches, appointments, etc.  ...so long as you maintain the ability to be available if I have questions, and you are able to get your work done in a timely matter within the deadlines that are set, you're free to do what you want.

[MaineDolFan]

I would find it hypocritical if anyone has complaints about other's personal calls (other than the possible noise distraction) if they visit this site during the same periods of time.

Great.

And now feel free to answer the question?

[Phishfan]

Great.

And now feel free to answer the question?

Well I would think that is an answer in and of itself. Aside from possible noise distractions it would be hypocritical for anyone of us to have a complaint. I can't believe I had to spell that out.

[MaineDolFan]

^Not really.  I wasn't asking you to speak for the population of this website and our joint opinions because we take a couple minutes to post on a message board.

I was asking people their personal opinions (that would be "I" and not "us") about sitting next to someone that had a fairly loud (in other words you can hear every word) and long personal conversation on the phone during the work day. 

Posting this message didn't distract one of my coworkers, no one knows I am doing it.  If I were saying this exact thing out loud, into a phone, it would be different.

If your personal opinion is that you would feel hypocritical being annoyed at hearing someone's personal phone calls at work because you spend a portion of your day playing on line, and you don't see a difference between the two, than fine.  I'm not challenging opinions here at all, you simply haven't given me your own...you've answered for an entire population of a web board.

[MaineDolFan]

There is no real reason for my question, I work in a pretty quiet office.

My opinion is that as long as it does not have an adverse effect on my workday, I don't care who is doing what and when.  I let the managers manage. 

That said I also don't need to know people's personal lives and would prefer if folks kept personal calls to a slightly lower volume. I don't want to hear "Jane" bitching at her husband for a half hour because he didn't come in until 2am the night before.  Or "Bob" yelling at his credit card company because he doesn't agree with late fees when he didn't pay his bills.  If I can hear you in my office chances are that my clients might be able to hear you over the phone when I need to be on a call.  Not good.  Make your calls, bitch at your husband, order a new couch...whatever.  Lower your voice so I don't have to listen to it.

I personally make any personal calls on my lunch break while outside on my cellphone.  That is a privacy thing more than anything else, I am a strong believer in leaving work at work...and likewise work not intruding on my "real" life.

[Phishfan]

^Not really.  I wasn't asking you to speak for the population of this website and our joint opinions because we take a couple minutes to post on a message board.

I was asking people their personal opinions (that would be "I" and not "us") about sitting next to someone that had a fairly loud (in other words you can hear every word) and long personal conversation on the phone during the work day. 

Posting this message didn't distract one of my coworkers, no one knows I am doing it.  If I were saying this exact thing out loud, into a phone, it would be different.

If your personal opinion is that you would feel hypocritical being annoyed at hearing someone's personal phone calls at work because you spend a portion of your day playing on line, and you don't see a difference between the two, than fine.  I'm not challenging opinions here at all, you simply haven't given me your own...you've answered for an entire population of a web board.

Use your power of deduction Maine. You are smart enough to know were I am going or I give you a lot more credit than you deserve.

[BoSoxGrl]

I live by this as well.  I even take it a step further for my employees.  You can do whatever you want, within reason, in terms of slacking time, days off, sleeping in, vacations, long lunches, appointments, etc.  ...so long as you maintain the ability to be available if I have questions, and you are able to get your work done in a timely matter within the deadlines that are set, you're free to do what you want.

That's how my boss is.  I do try and take calls outside though...no one needs to be up in my business.

[Philly Fin Fan]

My entire 14 or so years of "real work", I've been in outside sales and never worked in an office setting, so I've never encountered this.

[bsfins]

  My whole job is a big personal call....

Actually,My bosses really don't care who I call..but then again I have few freinds and people that call me....and most of them Email me rather than call...