Question

[Napolean]

Originally Posted by sarv_shaktimaan

Boss: Dude, can you work this weekend?
American: I have a life outside of this job.

I had an American guy say the exact words to me when I asked him a question at 4:49pm on a Friday. I relayed the same to my manager when asked for an update.

Another time, a DBA working on my scripts went offline at 9PM after saying her shift was over. I screenshot the IM and sent it to my manager.

And your manager could not do anything - right?

[sarv_shaktimaan]

Originally Posted by Napolean

And your manager could not do anything - right?

I may be completely wrong but often white and black folks get away with not doing anything at work.. not everyone is that way but at least 20-30% are getting paid just to show up at work and stay the whole day. Often visa holders/contractors are expected to spend some extra time without pay.

[sarv_shaktimaan]

Any updates? What happened? Did you end up working that weekend?

[sarv_shaktimaan]

so, a related question .. I have the option of getting an email app for work on my personal iphone .. it comes with a $25 per month incentive.. but I guess I'm then kinda required to pay attention to work round the clock and during weekends, PTO, etc.

Should I do it or not? Any experiences to share?

[Aashika]

Originally Posted by sarv_shaktimaan

so, a related question .. I have the option of getting an email app for work on my personal iphone .. it comes with a $25 per month incentive.. but I guess I'm then kinda required to pay attention to work round the clock and during weekends, PTO, etc.

Should I do it or not? Any experiences to share?

dont take it. $400 a month, i would consider, not $25. you will be expected to be on call all the time.

[Zorro]

Originally Posted by Aashika

dont take it. $400 a month, i would consider, not $25. you will be expected to be on call all the time.

At my work, we dont have landlines. Everyone has company issued iphones. It's not that bad. I am not expected to attend to emails on weekends, although I do read my mails -- which only helps to prep me for what to expect going in on Monday.

And I have made it clear to my supervisor that I dont carry my work phone around with me everywhere I go -- esp on weekends, holidays or after business hours -- so dont expect me to answer calls during that time. He's cool with that.

Overall, for me -- having a corporate iphone has not been a bad experience.

Edit -- just re-read that you have an option of adding an email app on your own phone. Again, I would set the expectations straight with your manager. If you attend to emails after work hours or during weekends, will you be able to charge those hours? If not -- why bother?

[Charchila]

My company pays for the data plan on my iPhone, and I (among many of us) am expected to be on call all the time -- to address business critical, high priority issues. I am not expected to respond to normal emails during off hours/weekends. Sometimes it helps to keep up with things especially since we have worldwide teams that work around the clock. I think it's a great perk.

[sarv_shaktimaan]

I'm thinking of not doing this since it's voluntary.. I do have outlook access without the app via my phone on the browser.. so I can still stay in touch when not near a computer.

[Aashika]

Originally Posted by sarv_shaktimaan

I'm thinking of not doing this since it's voluntary.. I do have outlook access without the app via my phone on the browser.. so I can still stay in touch when not near a computer.

exactly. I have VPN and thats what I do. login to see if there is anything.

[sarv_shaktimaan]

Originally Posted by Aashika

exactly. I have VPN and thats what I do. login to see if there is anything.

I have VPN as well, but if I'm not home I can still check emails from phone without the app.

[sgars]

Originally Posted by sarv_shaktimaan

I'm thinking of not doing this since it's voluntary.. I do have outlook access without the app via my phone on the browser.. so I can still stay in touch when not near a computer.

Only you get paid a bit when you install that app.

[sarv_shaktimaan]

Originally Posted by sgars

Only you get paid a bit when you install that app.

App authorization is requested by manager so they know you supposed to be responsive.