Blue626 - Hey peeps, happy new year.How do yo...
How do you guys handle new Js or new managers in existing Js being too free with last-minute scheduling?
My J1 has been amazing for years, but its going through a huge shift. Now I notice that the new managers like to add meetings last minute (i.e. several hours after notification, the next day), or change meetings last minute (i.e. meeting was tuesday at X time, but 2 hours before the meeting, it gets changed to wednesday at Y time)
This frustrates me to no end. Regardless of OE, the whole benefit of WFH is flexibility. If I have an appointment I made, or need to balance my schedule against my family member's, or just planned on going for a walk at that time, this is hella frustrating.
How you guys handle this with a new J or new manager? I like to set a precedent that I'm working, but I also have a schedule that means Im not available at their beck and call. I don't want to be a naysayer whos never available, but the last minute shit drives me nuts. whether I have 1J or 5. Thoughts?
12 Replies
extended-salmon•9mo ago
I tend to be very upfront when I see calendar invites out of the blue more than a day of. Don't be passive about it. Make sure they know you get your shit done and you tell them that meetings often are better planned farther in advanced and anything sooner can be a slack message. It's better for remote culture and allows people to get to it when they can
correct-apricot•9mo ago
Yes thats always been my approach. The challenge is always with new managers who come from a "everyone should be available and reachable between 8 and 5"....gotta break those people in!
stormy-gold•9mo ago
If I don't get 24hrs notice, that's a tenative for me unless I deem it urgent.
correct-apricot•9mo ago
IMO 24 hours notice is not enough. For example, I may have set a Drs appt for wednesday at 2pm. If you tell me tuesday morning that we have a meeting at that time, sorry, I have an appt already. As @totaldev said, these kinds of last minute things could probably be a slack message or email. I'm not sure what the "correct amount" of advanced notice is to schedule a group meeting, but to me it should be at least 2+ days.
But @Saplith in general I agree, if I'm not given what I deem to be sufficient notice, I let people know "I'll make it if I can". If I'm told "you're critical to this meeting," my attitude is that if I'm critical, you should have asked me first. @totaldev totally agree about setting precedent for remote-culture.
stormy-gold•9mo ago
Then say no? Like if I had a doctor's appointment. I knew for a while. I will tell them no i have a doctor's appointment
I think the only exception is when I'm getting my monthly meds because I'm just sitting there but it's great because seeing me in a hospital really sells "I have doctor's appointments for real" to my boss... even when I fake them
stormy-gold•9mo ago
First of all - Make sure your calendar is blocked off for times you genuinely can’t attend.
Next - I’d start responding to these requests with, “Is this an emergency?” If it genuinely is then you are out of luck but if it isn’t then you can push back and say you want more notice.
stormy-gold•9mo ago
I get what you're saying about being critical, but for me my doctor's appointments and BS are on my calendar. You cannot miss them so fuck off
correct-apricot•9mo ago
Yeah I think what you guys are saying about marking these things off on a calendar makes sense. How do you "mark off" a J2's daily standups and other weekly meetings on your J1 calendar without drawing suspicion?
stormy-gold•9mo ago
invent daily obligations. that's all I have. or sometimes you'll have to deal with overlaps
graceful-blue•9mo ago
what are some daily obligations? daily pick up of family?
stormy-gold•9mo ago
tend to family members, pick up kids, travel to some location for some reason. some must do errand where you're out and about. It's hard for me to think of because being an actual caretaker in my family is a handy excuse I can validate randomly if suspicion level rises
inland-turquoise•9mo ago
Check company policy. Sometimes there's an expectation of responding to emails within 24 hours or one business day. If someone sends a meeting invite you you would have 24 hours to respond to that request. That will kill all "day of" meetings.