Do you answer other peoples' phones at work?

Virdi · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:26

Hi all,

Any of you that work in an office environment, will surely understand how annoying it is - If the phone keeps ringing on a desk nearby...

So... is it more professional for you to answer it?

Or - do you just let it ring and ring?

antijoke · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:26

Answer it.

uber soldat · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:28

Let it ring, it's not your phone so the person clearly does not wish to speak to you.

tisonlyme · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:29

All phones here are diverted to me anyway, so I have no choice

tsgray70 · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:29

I can go one better. We used to have a guy that worked here called Dave, (name changed in case he sees this), and he used to andswer his phone with, "hello Daves phone." Didn't matter how many times I tried to explain. He never got it.

KaHn · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:29

Nope don't answer it unless the desk occupant has asked me to do so before hand and then only if I can hear it with head phones in.

KaHn

bledd · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:31

tsgray70 said:
I can go one better. We used to have a guy that worked here called Dave, (name changed in case he sees this), and he used to andswer his phone with, "hello Daves phone." Didn't matter how many times I tried to explain. He never got it.

explain what?

Spuff Monkey · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:32

Answer the ****in thing. It's childish just sitting there pretending you can't hear it.

Or do what I do, shout "that'll stop if you pick it up!" across the office

No swearing

Gilly

uber soldat · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:32

bledd. said:
explain what?

I believe he is trying to make the point that he answered saying "Daves phone" even when it was not his phone, could be wrong though

Amnesia · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:33

or that they knew it was daves phone as they dialled his number

Gilly · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:34

Answer it.

KaHn · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:34

Spuff Monkey said:
Answer the ****** thing. It's childish just sitting there pretending you can't hear it.

Or do what I do, shout "that'll stop if you pick it up!" across the office

Do you answer other peoples mobile phones aswell?

KaHn

Ciphon · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:35

I'm lucky enough to not have / need a phone on my desk

I occasionally answer other people's when asked...

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:35

I answer it at my current role, because although there is voicemail, no-one knows how to use it or bothers.

If there is VM then I let them leave a message.

ScarySquirrel · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:37

No one answers other people's phones where I work. I can't see why we would as any phone that rings on its own is an internal call.

Dj_Jestar · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:38

Answer it you complete pleb. Even if just to tell them the person they wish to speak to is not there.

LordSplodge · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:40

My boss has his phone on call forward to be almost all the time even when he is at his desk

I answer colleagues phone because I have to and often answer my bosses boss phone as well!

A certain person doesn't answer my phone even when it is obvious I am busy and that's just rude IMO

tsgray70 · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:41

To explain, Dave was answering his own phone and saying, "hello daves phone"

riddler · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:42

Surely it depends on where you work and if you're capable of helping the person on the other end of the phone?

Solari · 18 Mar 2009 at 12:42

If you're working in a team, chances are you can help whoever is calling your colleague, so it's the done and professional thing to answer it.