I work in shifts which overlap with my colleagues for 1h. We have shifts from 8am – 4pm, the classic 9 – 5 and 10 – 6. Naturally when I have an early shift, I leave the office before the colleagues who have a later shift.
One day I was working the 8-4 shift and a more senior colleague of mine who was on the 10-6 shift showed up earlier. But not like at 8:30 earlier. I mean at best 10 mins earlier. I asked her about an issue I had and she didn’t reply. Thinking maybe she didn’t hear I repeated. Ignored again. I asked her if there was anything wrong and she said no. Anyways, fast forward to 10am, only then she said that she doesn’t answer work-related questions outside the program. I told her it really wasn’t that big of a deal, but she wasn’t having it.
This situation repeated with some of our other colleagues and her. Now it’s not like we’d call her outside working hours, but she’s 10 mins early, already IN THE OFFICE, so come the f on!
Anyways, one day my shift ended earlier than hers, but as I was wrapping up, she hit a spot when she needed me. Especially me, couldn’t do it without me. Guess what I did? I ignored her. Started packing up my stuff. She demanded again, and I turned to her and kindly explained that my shift ended at 5pm and if she needs me, I’ll be available again tomorrow starting with 9pm.
She lost it, called me and AH, told me I’m stalling her and she’ll appear to not complete her tasks because of me and so and so and so. All I said is "sorry, I don’t answer work-related questions outside the program" told her bye and left home.
Maybe I overdid it, but was I TA?
Nta, wow, your co-worker is self-entitled.
I reckon it would also be pretty rude to ask a question that needed detailed answers in the last 15mins of your shift, excluding emergencies.
Also, does your boss not pay you if you have to stay a bit late? Are they also the AH?
I mean… for 15 minutes staying late, it’s not that bad, also it’s not a regular occurrence. Actually, my boss never requires us to stay late, just some entitled colleagues do…
NTA has your colleague ever heard the expression “what goes around comes around”?
And let’s not forget what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
You are definitely NTA and depending on where you live, are protected under law not to answer a call outside of work hrs. I can’t stand colleges like this. This is why I cannot work in an office space 😂
I need to be outside so I can walk away from people like that.
NTA. I can understand refusing to do work but to answer a question about work? That’s ridiculous. There’s no reason someone can’t give out information off the clock. I regularly get called about work with questions and I will answer because I am aware I have knowledge that most don’t but many need to find to do their own job. It’s easier, faster, and more efficient to share information than to leave a colleague struggling and possibly unable to get the job done.
Or just give them a quick but friendly “hey I’d be happy to help you with that when my shift starts in ten minutes,” not totally stonewalling them like a psychopath!!
Absolute gold!! Well done!
NTA. Your response was perfectly petty without violating work guidelines. You only work when you are scheduled and anything outside of that is up to you. She doesn’t work outside of her scheduled hours, as she stated, so why should you do her a favor? Her attitude seems like it needs some work.
Nope u gave her a taste of her own medicine good job
NTA- i think it’s a reasonable boundary to not answer work related questions outside of work hours. Whether its an hour or 5 mins before/after a shift. We have the “right to disconnect” laws where im from. I dont think your co worker is unreasonable for that. However she is unreasonable for how she reacted when you had the same boundary.
She doesn’t want to deal with the consequences of her own choices. NTA.