People thinking I ignore them on purpose

On multiple occasions, a manager at work called my name multiple times and I never answered. Why? Because I didn't hear her. She never believed me when I said I didn't hear her. Well, I was doing something else. She called for me 5 times? ok well I didn't hear her any of those times.

She's not the only one. The GM sometimes tell me to do something 3 or 4 times b4 I hear him. He doesn't accuse me of ignoring him. Yet, she says I never listen and ignore the hell out of her. If I'm getting something done, I'm focusing on it. How can anyone expect me to hear anything more than few feet away? Yet the GM even told me on multiple occasions I had ignored HER. He thinks I didn't listen to her purposely. I only remember 2 of these occasions and it was only bc I was told about them immediately after it happened.

I could be getting out of a friend's car when they drop me off somewhere (like work) and as I get out, she be yelling my name several times but I wouldn't hear a thing. Then she be so damn offended. Well I was already several feet away.

When I used to work at Arby's, I would be off to get something done and a manager had YELLED my name to do something else and I didn't hear her at all. She said there's no way I couldn't have heard her. Like lay off on me. I answer if I hear you.

Hi Ruby. I had a similar issue once in my employment but I have a hearing problem. My ears literally are clogged up most the time (long story). So I don't hear as well as I should. So I'm wondering: do you think you may have a hearing issue? Has this always been a problem, and not just at work?

I can hear from almost anywhere when I’m not tuned out.

Ive tuned out - at work, walking down the street. Maybe people shouldnt be yelling at other people. Maybe they should go up to them politely.

Have you thought about having your hearing tested? Maybe you certain sounds. I used to work at Arby's and face several discrimination because of my hearing disability.

It could be that your hearing isn't good when you are around a lot of noise too. Some work places are noisey. Also, some people talk in tones a person may not hear well at too. Seeing this happens to you more than you would like, it's best to get your hearing checked so you can learn what your actual hearing range is. This way you can inform others that you can genuinely not hear them in certain situations and to please don't think you are choosing to ignore them.

Are you tuned out while at work? It’s a bit concerning if someone yells and you don’t hear them. It sounds like you may be frustrating your supervisors. Maybe you can try to be more aware of hire environment? And your supervisors’ presence.

Sometimes I wish I could zone out, but I'm the other way.

Can listen into several conversations, especially on trains, planes or in shops. Put it down to working in open plan offices.

Currently wish I could switch off, as have noisy neighbours living above me. He's deaf and takes hearing aid out when he gets home, so turns television up. The other evening, had to turn volume of my tv up to max to drown out sound from his. He's currently on paternity leave; how their newborn manages to sleep above this noise beats me!!!

My hearing acuity is just fine. When I’m not focused on something else, I could even hear softer sounds that other people can’t. At work, I see something that needs done and I do it. I get so focused on it that I don’t hear ppl calling for me. Aren’t there other people like that?

They’d be less frustrated if they just believe me when I explained I didn’t hear them. Called me 5 times? Great. Still didn’t hear them. The GM doesn’t get mad and accuse me of ignoring him, even though he also called my name multiple times. Why should anyone else get mad?

I remember returning stuff to Sam’s club once and I forgot to stop by the entrance where they give you a sticker to put on your return item. I kept walking and the greeter called for me several times, escalating her voice each time. She actually had to chase after me to get my attention. She got mad that I “ignored” her more than me not stopping for a return sticker.

They could give you a beeper. Dont you usually have an assigned task? What are they yelling at you to do?

Ruby, perhaps now that you're aware that people have tried multiple times to gain your attention, you can be more aware of your surroundings? Especially when your supervisor is present? I always am aware of whenever my supervisor is around the area... it's a good habit to get into.

Lots of people can kind of get lost in there work. But you work in fast food, aren’t you working the drive thru?

Maybe there is just tooo much noise going on around you. My husband has a lot of trouble hearing is a noisy situation.

My advise is address this issue with whom ever is having trouble getting your attention professionally

Hi _____

I’m not sure why at times I’m not able to hear you calling my name, I will work to be more aware.. I’m not doing this on purpose. Please let me know if this happens again.

Say thank you and return to your doing your job.

I guess now that you are aware that people are trying to call you it would be to your best interest to pay more attention to your surroundings. I would think that no matter how involved you are in a work project if someone is calling your name 5 times you should be able to hear that.

Does it usually annoy coworkers and managers if they keep calling your name and you never answer? Like not even acknowledge they’re talking to you.

Hi Ruby, I'm curious why you think that wouldn't annoy someone, most especially at work and from a supervisor who is trying to gain your attention?

Put yourself in their shoes: wouldn't you be aggravated by someone not answering you multiple times?

Yes especially if it’s busy and whatever I had to say is urgent. That would annoy the hell out of me if they don’t answer.

Okay then, if YOU don't like it when someone doesn't answer you, then obviously that's how THEY are feeling when YOU don't answer. I've worked at Arby's. There is absolutely positively 100% NO REASON you need to be so focused on wiping off a table that you cannot pay attention to what's going on around you. What if a customer was wanting your attention and you ignored them and your boss saw OR they complain to the boss that you were rude to them? That's a write up right there. What if a gunman walked in and was robbing the cashier while you were lost in your own thoughts? Part of being in a job is to pay attention to what's going on around you at least for safety's sake. I just can't possibly imagine you being "so focused" on wiping a table that you tune people out. I don't think you're focused on the task at hand, I think you're daydreaming and tuning people out and that's going to get you in trouble.

Ruby, my EX husband was the same way. He has ASD. Not sure if there is a correlation but often times he was inside his own head with his thoughts & tuned everything & everyone else out. It was very irritating & definitely not functional in the real world of interfacing with people. I don't know if he was incapable of being any different....I sense not when his focus was inside his own tunnel.

I used to work at Arby’s. I work at McDonald’s now. The manager I’m referring to is the only one who accuse me of ignoring her. I unintentionally do that to everyone, but she’s the only one making a big deal out of this. She says I don’t listen to her cuz I don’t like her. Wtf.

Ruby has ASD. It’s extremely common to be so in their own mind that people don’t acknowledge or don’t see or don’t hear what’s around them. It’s VERY very common for people on a spectrum. It’s not negligent day dreaming it’s part of their disorder/disability

Ruby please talk to your case manager/job coach about some strategies and perhaps requesting accommodations from your work place. Maybe a pager or a beeper that would alert you to some urgent matters. Also discuss with your case manager how to bring it up to management. Do they have info on your diagnosis and accommodations you might need in a work place?

it seems tho that if it was an issue before, and was brought to your attention and now again being brought to your attention...that you could make a more forceful effort to be aware of your surroundings. as someone mentioned there are safety issues, as well as customer service ones...and again, if you are out cleaning tables or something, you need to be aware of what is around you.

you tend to post these issues with a tone as if "wtf? why do they say this it's just wrong?" but it's not. and deep inside I think you know it. how many times does someone have to call your name for you to respond? in 2 different workplaces? really? I think your superiors are very patient people. more patient then I would ever be. I get it that there are issues but still..you need to put effort into your position.

Are you at a new McDonald's where you've never worked or the previous one where you got into trouble with your supervisor?