Is this a new thing? I work remotely. Whenever I call my manager she picks up, but she never says anything.
After waiting about 5 seconds, I say something and then she acts like I was supposed to say something. As long as I can remember, when someone calls me, I answer either with "Hello Jane" or something like that. I find this strange and wonder, is this the new way of doing things?
SPQ
512
12/31/25 at 4:02PM UTC
Maybe she is getting so much spam calls to her cellphone nowadays this is her new M.O., even if it's an internal call through Teams or Slack.
Prachi
13
12/30/25 at 8:05PM UTC
How you got remot job can you share with me
Anonymous
12/30/25 at 3:07PM UTC
an odd question but what generation is she from? My experience has been that younger people just don't know what phone etiquette is. They've spent most of their lives on social media and maybe texting (though I guess that's not a thing anymore either).
My other thought is that is she is using a Bluetooth headset or speaker, there may be a delay in it connecting to the call?
Anonymous
12/30/25 at 3:21PM UTC
I am 58 and she is about 15 years younger than me. It does feel like there is a generational difference in some things.
Anonymous
12/31/25 at 1:39PM UTC
I have a friend couple that my husband and I get together with. They are about 20 years younger than us and sometimes I get really frustrated with all the 'phone' stuff. They don't do phone calls, messaging or voice messaging and they are CONSTANTLY on their phones. If they're not talking to other's they're playing games, even when we're spending time together or having a conversation. Sometimes it makes me feel like they really don't want to be there, but I have to remind myself that is just how their generation is. I brought it up to them once and they were so shocked that I was hurt by it.
Suddenly feeling old, "kids today"
Catharine S
27
12/29/25 at 5:45PM UTC
She's probably doing something else when she answers the phone and not paying attention that the connection went through.
Megan Leashertalent strategist + bourbon lover
1.2k
12/29/25 at 3:56PM UTC
That would totally weird me out. I would ask her about it.
Anonymous
12/30/25 at 3:22PM UTC
It is a new thing lately. She didn't always do this. I'm not sure why. The last time I just laughed and said " I don't know why you aren't responding, and I am not saying anything because I am waiting for you to respond." She didn't have an answer as to why, but it made me wonder if it is the latest etiquette. I've seen some people online about how to draft emails, for example, making it more chummy and saying "Hey guys" instead of something more formal. It just got me wondering, but it is kind of annoying.
Anonymous
12/31/25 at 1:41PM UTC
like how they don't say goodbye either. Have a younger coworker like that. She just waits for the natural lull and then hangs up, even on video calls. When her manager asked her, the response was "why should I say bye? I'm going to be talking to them all day".
She does say 'goodnight' at the end of the day though.
Juliana Toan
14
12/28/25 at 2:05PM UTC
It sounds like she has a screening service on her phone. You can set them up so that they don’t say anything (Robokiller for instance).
Susan RoblesHR Leader in Los Angeles Area
1.72k
12/31/25 at 3:31PM UTC
I thought so too, but would imagine the boss put the poster's phone number in their contacts.
Guess I would as the caller, say Hi, and start my question. Odd boss or not.
Anonymous
12/27/25 at 5:30PM UTC
Your boss is a weirdo.
Anonymous
12/27/25 at 2:15PM UTC
Perhaps the connection clips the first thing she says. I've had silence on the line and I never knew the person had already said hello.
So just go ahead and say, "hi this is Jane", as if she had said hello.
Personally I'm more annoyed by people who say, "hi it's me", as if I'm always going to recognize them.
Anonymous
12/27/25 at 11:25AM UTC
Based on the responses, it sounds like it IS a new thing. I don't think you're asking for advice, but more to see if this is a new norm. I find it disrespectful, but based on the responses, perhaps it is a new norm. If someone calls me, I respond. If the person on the receiving side quietly picks up and is irritated that the caller is waiting for them to acknowledge they are there, frankly it is poor etiquette.
Anonymous
12/27/25 at 3:06AM UTC
I would suggest answering her with your name since she expects that behavior. It is not worth it to wait for her response - which would get her irritated.
