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Mobile phone nuisance

Hope

One of  my support workers, who I only see once a week, always checks her phone repeatedly when I am with her. When I open my door upon her arrival, her head is bowed over her phone as she clicks away, and I refuse to speak until she puts her phone away, but I don't think she gets the message. Often, when we are waiting for the bus after I have done my shopping, she stands there looking at her phone, making me feel really uncomfortable.

My other support worker, who I see on the other days and who is my key-worker, hardly ever checks her phone; and if she really must use her phone, the reason is clearly set out with apologies.

The reason I feel uncomfortable with the former support worker's gratuitous phone use, is that I feel she should be giving her attention to me, supporting me; and that when she is looking at her phone I feel she is ignoring me.

How can I bring this issue up in a polite way?

  • I totally get you as I hate with a passion people wired up to their own mobiles and ignoring me and my frustration was so bad I ended a friendship with a friend of mine. I just think it's simple manners unless it's like an emergency likes. Just hang in there and I am sure the bosses will help you. 

  • Thank you for the advice.

    I would feel better if I approached either my key-worker or the manager of the Autism charity and asked then to have a word with the other support worker, without mentioning my name. Just to say that a service-user is uncomfortable with the excess phone use, and could she only use her phone in an emergency and not have it out all the time.

    I have problems with letting people know if I don't like something, maybe because I am afraid of confrontational situations, but I do need to practise being assertive.

    Thanks again.

  • Ask her boss what their policy is on personal mobile phone use whilst at work...that might get a word in her ear.

  • Hi - you're right, she shouldn't be spending lots of time on her phone when she's supposed to be supporting you.  Tell her politely that it troubles you and that you hope she understands why it does so.  If her employer is good, they would disapprove of this so maybe mentioning it to the key worker might help.