Ex's

[bean]

First off, every department in my store is issued 1 to 3 wireless phones. This way we can answer calls while in the department instead of having to go to an office. If you've been in a Lowe's Home Improvement recently, we have the exact same Toshiba/SpectraLink setup. Don't get me started on the crappy SpectraLink phones either, I hate them.

Anyway, I usually wind up carrying one of the grocery phones (we have 3.. 1 for frozen/dairy, 1 for bulk, 1 for the main grocery stuff). I had a call sent to me, I picked it up...

"Is Sam Smith there?"

"Let me check, hold on"

I walk up to "Sam" and tell him I have someone on the phone for him. He asks if they asked for him by name, I said yes.. and he loudly states that he won't take personal calls at work and tells me to tell them he went home already. Keep in mind I have the phone in my hand, and there's no mute button on it (and the hold button on this particular phone doesn't work).

I get back on the phone and say "He's not available, can I take a message?" (hey, I didn't say he went home, therefore I didn't lie at all) and the caller says "I know, I heard him tell you what to say. Can you ask him to call Amy at ###-####?"

Whoops!

Turns out it's an ex gf or ex wife (I didn't ask) that he has a restraining order for... When I told him who it was, he said "She's the reason that I don't answer calls at work". A few minutes later, a call got sent to his phone, and he handed it to me and asked me to answer it for him. (it was a customer this time)

Paranoid much?

[Broomjockey]

If he has a restraining order against her, I wouldn't really call it paranoia...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Yeah, I wouldn't call it paranoia if he's got a restraining order against her and she's still trying to get a hold of him.

Too bad the operator doesn't recognize the ex's voice. He/she could then say your co-worker isn't available, so he doesn't have to be worrying about her attempts to contact him.

[Geek King]

If he has a restraining order against her, I wouldn't really call it paranoia...

Oh, I would still call it paranoia, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about it, either.

[Primer]

If he has a restraining order against her, he needs to report the phone calls to the police. That is definitely prohibited by the order.

[blas]

Unfortunately, for most overly psychotic and obsessive, a restraining order is just a piece of paper and has no real legal value or meaning.

How many times have we all heard of restraining orders being broken? Thankfully, further punishment ensues, but it's really sad when someone is so mentally unbalanced that they just won't leave someone alone. I have been fortunate enough to never have to seek a restraining order, but I have been pretty close before.

I don't think it's paranoia....I think anyone has a right to be scared of their well being and safety after dealing with people like that. I sure wouldn't feel completely safe just by having a restraining order or changing my phone # or anything of the sort.

[tropicsgoddess]

If the Ex calls again, tell her that Sam no longer works there. That should get her off his back.

[Becks]

If the Ex calls again, tell her that Sam no longer works there. That should get her off his back.

Only if all employees are in on it.

A coworker of mine has gone through something like that with an ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, one of the guys who wasn't in the know answered the phone.

[bean]

If the Ex calls again, tell her that Sam no longer works there. That should get her off his back.

With about 275 employees in the store... that just isn't gonna happen. Frontend is 55 people strong, and the store's phone is usually ringing off the hook all day as it is... there's no way for them to recognize anybody's voice.

Besides, she's just asking to get transfered to grocery when she calls.

[coolcuziknit]

I definitely wouldn't call him paranoid. There's a restraining order for a reason. By answering her calls he's only egging her on. If he doesn't take her calls eventually she'll take a hint and leave him alone.

[ArenaBoy]

Definitely not paranoia.

[Sylvia727]

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you.

It sounds like he's doing a fair job of dodging her calls, but he should still update the cops now and again. I'm pretty sure she can get jail time just for harassment at this point.

[Enigma]

A restraining order is just another way to say I love you

No, but seriously I don't think it's paranoia. I recently broke up with an Ex who wouldn't leave me alone, fortunatly my front end CSM's took it upon themselves to kick him out whenever they saw him. Phone calls though, that's.....hard to deal with.

[blas]

Unfortunately, having such a large employer, like the OP said, it will be too hard for them to lie. But if the guy from the OP is comfortable enough for people to all know this little secret.....they could exaggerate.

Perhaps if the guy were to go to mangement and explain the situation, and then anyone who answers the phone, instead of saying "Sam doesn't work here anymore" or whatever, just say "I'm sorry, because of recent incidents, Sam is no longer allowed personal phone calls except for family."

[bean]

Unfortunately, having such a large employer, like the OP said, it will be too hard for them to lie. But if the guy from the OP is comfortable enough for people to all know this little secret.....they could exaggerate.

Perhaps if the guy were to go to mangement and explain the situation, and then anyone who answers the phone, instead of saying "Sam doesn't work here anymore" or whatever, just say "I'm sorry, because of recent incidents, Sam is no longer allowed personal phone calls except for family."

First off.... he's not comfortable with people knowing.

Second, the fact is she's still asking to get transfered to grocery. Sam occasionally carries one of the grocery phones too. And as it is, we're not allowed personal calls, period, if you go by company policy (in reality, they're usually tolerated as long as they're not long or frequent).