How to handle a partner who calls all the time? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm working for a partner who calls me multiple times daily. This weekend he called me more than ten times to ask for an update or substantive answers to questions. He's already called me twice today. I can't focus on any assignment long enough to get anything done or have good answers when he calls me this much. It's disrupting, makes me anxious, and makes me want to quit. Anyone dealt with this before? How do you handle it? If I drop the ball completely with this one partner is that enough to tank my career? At a V20.

Anon for obvious reasons.

[gregfootball2001]

Don't pick up the phone. Block out some time on your calendar so that you're "busy" on Teams or whatever, and get some work done. Don't be unavailable all day long, but you're allowed to be "on calls" yourself.

[Anonymous User]

Don't pick up the phone. Block out some time on your calendar so that you're "busy" on Teams or whatever, and get some work done. Don't be unavailable all day long, but you're allowed to be "on calls" yourself.

100% agree. If you see a call coming through and you are in the middle of working on something, you can always send a quick email that you are tied up and will get back to him in 30 minutes or whatever it is. If there's any way to predict the calls (for example, they tend to come in quick succession when a draft is due or whatever it is), you can also set expectations in an email the night before with the latest draft - along the lines of "I am tied up on other matters tomorrow morning, but will turn to any comments/edits ASAP after that") -- that way they know you're not blowing them off.

[papermateflair]

What's this partner's reputation, and how responsible to them are you? I've seen situations where if a partner is truly out of control, the associate will set some firm boundaries which are backed up by another (and preferably more powerful) partner. Literally not taking calls after 8 PM, on the weekends etc. unless it is actually an emergency, and if the partner has an issue with it, they can speak to [fancier partner]. Of course, if this partner is the most important partner you work for, then you may not have someone who will back you up when setting boundaries, but if you are doing excellent work for other partners who you think are reasonable people, asking for their advice and seeing if they will back you up is a route I've seen work for others.