If they're really short-staffed, they shouldn't be wasting their time beating around the bush. Additionally, texting is too slow, I would just call them to get an immediate answer, so I can move on with planning how the rest of the day/shift will go.

"Hi {name}, would you be interested in coming in today to pick up some overtime?"

Simple yes/no, directly to the point, and frames the question in a (potentially) beneficial manner to the employ.

[–] HBK@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

When I used to manage people (for a call center) I would do that but via text. I didn't wanna catch anyone off guard with a phonecall where they agree to it without realizing they already had plans or something.

I also always tried to stress that this is optional, if there aren't enough people, that's on us, and we should have prepared better.

[–] Unicode13051@lemmyf.uk 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I don't keep my employees phone numbers as contacts on my phone and only use our landline to contact them.

I do this to create a barrier that prevents me from calling or texting my employees as the first step to solving a problem or getting information.

Additionally, it allows me to take actual time away from work and not be giving out instructions via text every few minutes when I'm home. Any issues that arise can (usually) be handled by my subordinates, and if they can't, then they can contact be as they have my number.

I really don't like bothering my employees when they're off in any fashion. I plan out my staffing every week, four weeks out. I never really thought about it until one of my newer hires told me his last employer only made schedules for his staff a week at a time, and when the week ended, he didn't know what time he would work the next day (or at all).

It blew my mind.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

I have had to explain to employees they I will not use intimation or analogy to ask someone to do something, I’ll just say it. Now I know why.

[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago

I'm on the other end of the spectrum, I will never answer a phone call, from work or not, my phone doesn't even ring unless it's from immediate family, I go out of my way to keep it that way. I will not respond unless it's a text, so if they do actually want me to respond or come in it will need to be via some sort of instant message/text