Richard wrote --

phone on the table. Like they are so important. I find that rude.

It is irritating. I'll normally silence mine when we eat and in meetings. Unfortunately I am basically "on call" 7 days a week 365 days a year

I seldom ever take my phone with me, as I wrote, except at work.
Being retired (well semi-retired) I am on "standby" five days a week,
working weekends. About the only time I get a work related call is if the woman at work calls off for some reason. (Her husband is going senile and sometimes takes a day off and I get a
Otherwise its just check the weekly schedule.
Being in security holidays are busy times for us since a lot of places
are closed and need extra coverage.
And being mainly contracted to to a university I follow its academic schedule.

I try to remember to just turn the ringer off and will return messages once

I am able.

That is the best way.
I've known people who had to go a meeting they didn't want to and had
someone call them after a few minutes with the callee saying he/she has to leave for some "important" reason. :)
I try not to miss meetings since that is so often when someone is elected
to do something. :)
Joe
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