My manager messages me on WhatsApp at 10pm. Can I just ignore it?
The complainant says
My contract says 9 to 5.30. My manager added the team to a WhatsApp group 'for quick things' and now sends messages there most evenings, sometimes as late as 10 or 11pm, often asking for things 'first thing tomorrow'.
I've stopped replying after work hours and deal with messages at 9am. My manager mentioned in my one-to-one that I 'don't seem very responsive' and that others reply in the evening. I'm not paid for evening work and I'm not on call.
The other side says the manager, as the complainant tells it
My manager says they don't expect replies at night, they just send messages when they think of them so they don't forget. They say the comment in the one-to-one was about general communication, not specifically evenings.
Jury discussion (5 comments)
Deliver your verdict to join the deliberation. Back to the case.
Comment on the dispute, not the people. No names, guesses about who anyone is, or abuse. Jury room rules.
'I don't expect replies' followed by 'you don't seem very responsive' in a review. Pick one.
Scheduled send exists. Your manager can think of it at 10pm and send it at 9am.
This is the answer. Suggest it as a 'tip' in your next one to one.
Keep a note of every message time. If this ever affects your review you'll want it.
They probably aren't a monster, just badly organised. But the one to one comment crosses the line.