Employee accidentally eavesdrops on boss's conversation about changing employees' work hours, decides to confront boss about it: ‘Am I wrong for speaking up?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 8, 2024 10:00 AM EST

Since many offices have switched their layout to an 'open space' type of work environment, the reality is that there is not a lot of privacy in the office. Not only do many employees find themselves working when they face their coworkers all day long, but there is also a trend of getting glass doors for all the rooms in the office. This means that there is pretty much nowhere you can be at work without someone else being able to see you, maybe other than the bathroom.

This ongoing trend leads employees to learn a lot more about their colleagues than they intended, as they might overhear conversations that are not meant for their ears. That also applies to work-related conversations that bosses might have in the office, much like what happened in this Reddit story. OP (original poster) overheard her boss interviewing a new hire and mentioning a change to employees' work hours. Since none of the current employees knew about this big change, OP decided to confront her boss about it, even though she wasn't supposed to hear this conversation in the first place.

Keep scrolling to read what happened next. After you are done, click here for a story of a job candidate who didn't get the job, but was still demanded to give the company access to her assignment.

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    Cheezburger Image 10425809920
    via kamranaydinov

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Accidentally overheard a conversation at work and I feel bad about it
    via wavy_ghost
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    I work in an open floor plan office. One of the managers sits directly behind me, about 5 feet away. It's a busy office, so I've learned to tune out most of the
    via wavy_ghost
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    noise and focus on what I'm working on. But today, I was getting back from break and getting situated at my desk. This manager was doing a video
    via wavy_ghost
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    interview and I heard him say "we're changing the hours our employees work. Right now they work from 9am-5pm, but we're changing it to 7am-3pm". I had
    via wavy_ghost
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    not heard anything before about my schedule being changed. Later in the day, I told my manager that I unintentionally overheard him say this and asked when that will be going into
    via wavy_ghost
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    effect. I feel bad for "eavesdropping", but I also feel like this is something that directly affects me and that I unintentionally overheard it. Am I wrong for speaking up?
    via wavy_ghost
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    ETA: I'm new at this job, I've only been here a couple weeks. So I didn't know if the schedule change was somewhat common knowledge among my coworkers. Also, he isn't my direct manager. I
    via wavy_ghost
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    heard this comment, then asked my direct manager about the schedule change.
    via wavy_ghost
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    rokar83 8h ago The 7-3 shift is amazing. I've been doing that for close to 10 years. Couldn't go back.
    via rokar83
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    dream_bean_94 • 9h ago • It's not really eavesdropping if he was talking loud enough for you to clearly hear him. It's not like you wire tapped his phone.
    via dream_bean_94
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    NHhotmom • 7h ago • If she works in a bull pit situation there is no such thing as ease dropping on conversation.
    via NHhotmom
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    SDlovesu2 5h ago • Years ago I worked 6 am to 2:30. It felt like I worked part time, since | had the afternoon free. The only downside is on Wednesday, I had to take a nap. . All the other days I was fine.
    via SDlovesu2
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    Layer, I ended up on a 7 am to 3:30, which still wasn't bad. The one hour made enough difference that I didn't. need that nap anymore.
    via SDlovesu2
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    grumpybadger456 • 2h ago • Well how did your manager react?? Did they seem annoyed at all? Sure you could have kept your mouth shut, but you asked for clarification, you didn't go around telling the whole office. If it was top secret, its
    via grumpybadger456
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    the manager who either didn't keep his mouth shut, or didn't bother moving to a private room and considering he could be overheard who should take the blame.
    via grumpybadger456
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    BelieveBelieves •9h ago • Edited 9h ago • I probably wouldn't have said anything because there's no advantage and only disadvantages. The fact that your boss was doing an interview in an open area of an open floor plan gives me a glimpse into the working environment, and it's not
    via BelieveBelieves
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    a pretty picture. Open offices and interviewing in open spaces make for a bad impression of your office. I am sorry to hear your work is like that and I hope you are at least paid well! At this point you've already said it, so your best bet is to try to figure out how to get
    via BelieveBelieves
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    on your boss's good side. No one like to be eavesdropped on, especially by a direct report. It is NOT your fault that you overheard, but it wasn't wise to point out that you listen to private conversations and then ask follow up questions on that convo.
    via BelieveBelieves
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    Personally, I think the best way forward is to pretend it didn't happen. Don't ask again about the topic and make a big production of putting in ear buds whenever they get on a call in the future. Pretend you don't hear them if they call out to you when you shouldn't be hearing them.
    via BelieveBelieves
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    Interesting Leader822 9h ago Nope, you have every right to ask questions and inquire about it.Good luck
    via InterestingLeader822
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    ferocioustigercat ⚫8h ago. If it was a private conversation that they didn't want someone overhearing, they would have taken it to a closed office. I'm guessing if they have a disciplinary meeting with an employee, they don't have it in that space but go to a more private location...
    via ferocioustigercat
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    Secure_Ship_3407 • 6h ago • Mums the word. Loose lips sink ships. Maybe even yours. What nobody hears doesn't affect you but let it slip and you get a pink one.
    via Secure_Ship_3407
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    natishakelly ⚫5h ago • I wouldn't have said anything yet to be honest.
    via natishakelly
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    Leesha1118 • 9h ago I'd be glad I overheard that. For me only I'd have to look elsewhere for job. I couldn't do those hours as non morning person
    via Leesha1118
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    CrisCathPod • 7h ago What else could you do? You need to know your hours, after all.
    via CrisCathPod

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boss eavesdropping workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story ceo workplace Reddit company funny
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