Is it impolite to answer your work phone when someone is in your office?

Question

Does it depend on whether the in-person conversation is work-related or not?

I should have said that I'm a corporate cost accountant.

Also, I work inside a secure facility. The visitors could only be colleagues. I do not interact with "customers," per se. I am that facility's cost accountant.

Answer 1

No not always.

Situation one -
I have a personal visitor and a call from my boss or customer. I should ask apology to the friend and complete the business phone talk.

Situation Two -
I have a colleague or customer sitting in front of me discussing some important matter and a phone comes from friend or wife. I would ask apology, pick up the phone, tell him or her to call me after two hours (or stipulated time delay) as I am busy in a meeting.

Situation Three -
I have a colleague or customer sitting in front of me discussing some important matter and a phone comes from another customer or boss. I would ask apology, pick up the phone, tell him or her as soon as possible (or stipulated time delay). If its boss I will tell him what I am doing. If it is another customer note down his number and call back later.

Depends on situation to situation but its not good to leave the phone unattended.

Answer 2

I think it totally depends on the situation. If your already having an important conversation, let the call go to voice mail. You can always call the person back. If it's not important, excuse yourself and answer the phone. If it's an important call, put them on hold and tell the person in your office that it's important and that you'll get back to them later. If the call isn't important, and you were already dealing with work, ask the caller if you can call them back.

Answer 3

If the call is important, I would apologize to the person in my office and take the call. A lot would depend on why the person was in your office. If it was a meeting or an interview then I would turn off the ringer. If someone just stopped by, I would sometimes take the call.

Answer 4

Well it depends on if the conversation is work related with someone that works above you, if not, kindly ask them to wait a second while you answer your phone and take a message if possible, so you can call them back later after you are done with your conversation.

Answer 5

I never answer the phone if I'm talking to someone about work - I think that's extremely rude. You know how some people just lunge for the phone if it rings, interrupting what the other person was saying? So rude! If I was just chatting then I'd probably say "oops, suppose I'd better answer that, talk to you later OK?".

Answer 6

I don't think it's impolite as long as you excuse yourself and make the phone conversation brief and let the person you're in conversation with feel more important, as of that moment. It's okay really but when the he/she starts talking too long it becomes really irritating especially when i'm the one bringing business to them. Happened to me once and it really kinda pissed me off making me waste my time. Though i guess it's okay if you're just talking to a friend since your work phone would prolly ring because you know, it's work. =D

Answer 7

No i dont think is impolite. Its working time, if someone call meaning we being pay to answer the phone to treats our clients. if it not related work meaning something urgent.
Unless if you are in a middle of a meeting, then its really rude to answer or making calls, when yr boss or co-worker explain something related or not abt work.

Answer 8

I would answer, then within about ten seconds of the conversation say to the person on the phone, "Can I get back to you in a bit" or Tell the person standing there, "Sorry I have to take this."

Answer 9

It depends on who is calling. If it is someone important, I would answer the phone, and then apologize to the person you were talking to in the first place.

Answer 10

Make written notes of what the guy is saying to you. Get your kit checked to make effective its working superb. decelerate, take deep breaths so which you would be able to think of of course. in case you prefer reference books/techniques for the shopper make certain you comprehend precisely the place they're and you're actually not grappling around for techniques that would reason you to grant them the incorrect techniques in frustration. Roleplay with a extra senior colleague, get them to be the variety of confusing shopper you're having problems with. checklist your conversations (if a threat), any which you come across confusing replay them once you have calmed down and think of ways you have gotten dealt with it extra effective. keep in mind that coping with issues superb first time reasons the telephone to ring much less interior the destiny. Do you have any self-expertise subject concerns thats inflicting you to not communicate loudly sufficient considering which you're hectic approximately what your colleagues think of? Does the difficulty relate to accents which you have not encountered on your training, wherein case advance the subject with the learning depeartment.