Should My Boss Be Texting Me? 18 Good & Bad Situations

Your phone pinged, and you saw a text from your boss out of work hours. You might ask yourself: “should my boss be texting me?”

It’s not entirely wrong to wonder if your boss should be texting you. Especially if it’s out of work hours.

Should My Boss Be Texting Me – 18 Situations

Most people see their boss as someone who should maintain a certain level of professionalism.

That said, there are some instances where it might be perfectly fine for your boss to text you.

So let’s discuss the good and the bad of bosses texting their employees. Let’s start with the good.

1. Update On An Upcoming Project:

Your boss might send you a text to update you on an upcoming project.

This is perfectly understandable since it’s work-related. And it can be helpful for you to know what’s going on with work projects.

For instance, a client might be interested in working with you on a new project. So rather than emailing everyone in the company, your boss might shoot you a text.

They will, this way, let you know that you should be expecting a call from the client.

2. Feedback For A Project:

Your boss might have some feedback for you about a project you’re working on. For instance, they may want you to change how you’re doing something.

Or, they may have some suggestions on how you can improve your work. Either way, it’s important to be open to feedback from your boss – even if it’s delivered via text.

They may forget to give it in the office. Thus, you might not get the feedback until much later – if at all.

3. To Check In On You:

In some workplaces, it’s normal for bosses to check in on their employees from time to time.

And this usually happens via text message. For instance, your boss might want to know how you’re doing with a project you’re working on.

Or they may want to know if you need any help. Either way, it’s important to be responsive when your boss texts you – even if you’re busy.

They may ask about your health if they know you’re having a tough time.

In times of sickness, they might text you to inquire about your health.

4. To Send You an Important Memo:

Sometimes, your boss might need to send you an important memo. And if they can’t deliver it in person, they may opt to send it via text.

This is usually fine. But if the memo is long, you might want to ask your boss to send it another way.

For instance, you might say, “I’d prefer an email for memos like this.” Or you could ask to schedule a meeting to discuss the memo further.

5. If You Have An Emergency:

If you had an emergency, your boss would text you. For instance, if you got into a car accident on the way to work. They might text you to see if you’re okay.

Or, if there was a fire in the office, they might text you to evacuate the building. In these cases, it’s perfectly fine for your boss to text you.

Emergencies can be work-related or personal. For example, if you have a family emergency, your boss might text you to see if you need to take some time off.

6. Project Cancellation:

Project cancellation can be a huge relief or a huge disappointment. If your boss texts you to cancel a project, it’s probably because they don’t think it’s worth your time.

It’s not a personal attack, so don’t take it that way. Just be grateful that you don’t have to waste your time on a project that wasn’t going to be successful.

The boss texts you that a project has been pushed back. Then, you can adjust your schedule accordingly.

7. Asking For Your Input:

Your boss may text you to ask for your input on a project. That shows that they respect your opinion and value your input.

In this case, it’s a good thing. You should feel honored that your boss trusts you enough to ask for your help.

And by giving a thoughtful response, you can help ensure the project is successful.

And with that, you’ll be helping your boss look good too.

8. When You Need To Be Available:

There will be times when your boss needs you to be available. Even if it’s outside of normal work hours.

For example, they may need you to attend a meeting or come to work on a project.

In these cases, it’s perfectly acceptable for your boss to text you. And you should respond promptly.

For instance, you may want to let them know you’re on your way. Or that you’ll be there as soon as possible.

Never ignore your boss’s texts. Unless you have a very good reason.

9. Good News:

Your boss might also text you to tell you good news like you’re getting a raise or a promotion.

In these cases, it’s perfectly fine to text back and says thank you.

You may even want to celebrate with an emoji. However, don’t get too carried away. After all, you are still at work.

And when it comes to work-related news, always double-check with your boss before responding.

This way, you can avoid any misunderstandings.

10. Urgent News:

Your boss may also text you about an urgent work matter. In this case, it’s important to respond quickly and efficiently.

You can always ask your boss for clarification if you’re unsure what to do.

Just make sure to keep the lines of communication open. And when in doubt, err on the side of caution.

You can always ask your boss for clarification if you’re unsure about what to do.

11. Cancelling A Meeting:

You may have a meeting with your boss that gets canceled at the last minute. If this happens, don’t be afraid to ask why.

It’s important to stay in the loop, especially if you’re working on a project together.

And with the prevalence of remote work, it’s become more important than ever to stay in touch with your boss.

Even if not all of your interactions are in person, building rapport is still important.

12. To Ensure You’re On The Same Page:

You may have seemed confused on a conference call. Or maybe you didn’t quite understand an email, and your boss might have noticed it.

Thus, they may ensure that you’re on the same page before moving forward.

They may text you to ask if everything is clear and if you have any questions. In this case, it’s a good thing!

It shows that they care about your understanding. And they want to make sure you’re comfortable with the project before continuing.

So these were ten good reasons to whether your boss could text you.

Now let’s look at the situations where it is not appropriate for your boss to text you.

13. Micromanagement:

If your boss constantly texts you about every little thing, it might signify micromanagement.

This behavior can make you feel like you’re not trusted to do your job properly. And it can be frustrating.

In this situation, your boss should not be texting you. Instead, they should communicate with you in person or over the phone.

14. If You’re on Vacation:

If you’re on vacation, your boss should not be texting you. This is a time for you to relax and recharge.

Your boss should respect your time off and not expect you to be available 24/7. If they text you, don’t feel obligated to respond immediately.

You may want to let them know you’re on vacation and will get back to them when you return.

And while we’re on vacation, you should also avoid checking work email while you’re away.

15. If It’s About Personal Matters:

If your boss is texting you about personal matters, it’s probably not appropriate.

For example, they shouldn’t ask you for your home address or what you did over the weekend.

If they are, you may want to discuss appropriate boundaries with them.

You may also want to let HR know if you feel like your boss is crossing the line.

16. If It’s A Form Of Harassment:

If your boss is texting you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, it may be harassment.

For example, if they’re sending you explicit messages. Or asking you for favors you don’t want to do is inappropriate.

If this is happening, you should speak to HR about the situation. You may file an if you feel like it’s necessary.

It’s also important to remember that you’re not obligated to respond to your boss’ texts right away.

You can even block them and change your number if you feel like it’s necessary.

18. If They Are Disrespectful:

If your boss is being disrespectful on text, it is not okay. This includes, but is not limited to:

– Name-calling

– Yelling

– Demeaning comments about your work or abilities

– Threats

You can ignore these texts, but you may also want to speak to HR about the situation.

It’s important to remember that you have a right to be respected at work, and this includes text.

Final Word:

So “should my boss text me?” has a complicated answer. If they are respectful and understand that you have a life outside of work, then texting can be an okay way to communicate.

If they are disrespectful, you have every right to ignore their texts or report the behavior to HR.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your situation.

Last Updated on 9 months by Shahzaib Arshad