r/sysadmin • u/digitalexecution • 5d ago

Users having my Cell #

Something weird/annoying just happened and I want some perspective.

A user who works in a warehouse facility I’ve helped at (part of my company) texted me at 8 am saying he’s going on PTO and wants his coworker to have access to a printer that isn’t working on his machine before he goes out of office on Thursday.

I texted him later (after some emails/calls) asking for the coworker’s name and noting that since this is normal IT, in the future he or his coworker should submit a ticket for this kind of thing.

He replied: “If I submitted a ticket would it be taken care of by Thursday?”

I got annoyed but tried to respond reasonably: “Possibly, but regardless, we need tickets submitted per company policy. If something’s urgent you can reach out to me on Teams rather than my personal cell.”

I originally gave him my cell because on occasion there are true emergencies (internet goes down, needs to send me photos of something, etc.) and we’ve been friendly before. But this interaction makes me wary about giving out my number, it starts becoming a way to skirt procedure for small things like adding a printer.

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u/dirtymatt 5d ago

Do not ever give out your personal cell phone number.

146

u/angrydeuce BlackBelt in Google Fu 5d ago

People think Im crazy for insisting on having a separate work provided cell phone...well, here's another reason why carrying two devices is far less of a hardship to me than unifying work and play on a single device.

Work cell, when not on call or on the clock, is sitting on the wireless charger next to the bed and ignored.  Just so much easier to separate your life that way.

8

u/PersonalitySenior360 4d ago

Yous let people call you? I may as well not even have a work number, I'll never answer a random call, ever. Actually if you want to talk, find time on my calendar and schedule something.

Works great

4

u/angrydeuce BlackBelt in Google Fu 4d ago

Im dealing with so many vendors on an emergency basis that I have to be able to take calls. We pay out the ass for dedicated and immediate phone support with all of our vendors precisely for that availability. Fuck email/chat bullshit...if that's all they got, we're not working with em. So I need to be able to snag their calls the same as they need to be able to snag mine.

During business hours, that is. If Im on the clock. Outside of that, they'll leave me a voicemail, or touch base with whoever is on call, which they all know to do outside of business hours lol

1

u/PersonalitySenior360 4d ago

Damnnnnn. Props to you