Member of staff off sick AIBU to say AAAAAAAGH (and breathe!!)

[BallsforEarings]

Ok I sound unreasonable, we all have 'stuff' happen but here's the thing - Our company closes down EVERY christmas for the full two weeks! Always has done always will do so that we can all breathe again, especially me who has not stopped day or night for a full year due to building the business AND working out with the teams during the day.

Myself and husband have not had chance to take one single day off since last xmas and personally I have not stopped working except whilst asleep!

I am not properly off work during this holiday, since every day, including xmas eve and boxing day I've spent a few hours doing essential preparations for setting out next year's schedule, stock control, kitting out teams, calling in late payments, running payroll and to cap it all my adult daughter is in hospital and so I have personal stress with regard to that too! My staff all know that!

One of our part-time teams (of two young mums) requested to work a couple of days this xmas as they needed extra cash for their families so I relented and set up the clients for them to service for today and tomorrow, even though it meant me 'on duty' in the background lest anything should occur, I was willing to let them earn some extra and trusted all would go well so I could get on with the days' chores which are a-plenty, especially since these two expressed small disappointment that I had only arranged them a couple of jobs per day as they felt they would have liked more than that but I did what i could in the time I had. I expressed concern about their childcare arrangements because I cannot cover anyone these two days due to having enormous amounts of stuff to do plus needing some clear days without presssure, they assured me they had relatives covering for 'as long as they like' and could work any hours.

This morning one of these two called in sick because her child was ill! The other is struggling to cover as best she can! The day turned into chaos and pressure, of me rearranging things and directing her as best I could!

AIBU to insist we just close for business next xmas no matter who thinks they want to work, even if they plead poverty? I am so frazzled, needed to vent!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!

That is all!

[mrscumberbatch]

Yup just close for business. Maybe go on holiday to totally get away from it all?

[Cantbelievethisishappening]

Your post is less about closing for two weeks and more about your fury that employee could not come in despite the reason being beyond her control. You have given enormous backstory so as to negate the comment This morning one of these two called in sick because her child was ill!

That's how I read it anyway.

[BeHoHoHove]

Lesson learned. Next year close, no hassle.

[Altinkum1]

Yabu, her child is ill so she won't be able to get childcare for her child.

Your post is full of I, and all about ME, when you have young children commitements need to be put on the back burner, it's why parents can have unpaid days off die to sick children.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

Unfortunately you can't plan when your children fall ill. I've had to cancel overtime at work which I really wanted to do because dd was too unwell for nursery and I wanted to stay home with her rather than someone else look after her. I'm not sure why you felt them being young mums was relevant though

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Oh do please jog on

It's your business

I would expect you to have to slog, you reap the rewards

Your staff cannot help an ill child

Are you Scrooge?

[whentheshithitsthefan]

the op didn't want anyone to work at this time. her employee asked her for extra work. op checked that she had childcare arranged. she isn't forcing the lady to work ffs. she wanted them to be off work.
i don't think yabu, you tried to help someone out and have ended up with more hassle, live and learn tho.

[Purplepoodle]

I think you have every right to agrrrhhh. Guessing relatives won't look after the sick child

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Yes abs shit happens and children get sick, and any amount of childcare cover won't fix that as most childcare provisions won't take a sick child

No one can plan for that

[Altinkum1]

And the worker couldn't foresee Her child was going to be ill, in the same the OP couldn't forsee Her own daughter being ill.

It's one of those unexpected situations that out of anyone's control, the op could always work it herself if she sees a huge issue with it, after all it is her business.

It's not the work set fault her dc is ill.

[Shakey1500]

You sound incredibly stressed and with good reason. However you know YABU as it's out of her control. I would seriously look at putting in place some steps to make your next year less fraught. Are you in a position to employ a manager of sorts to manage the teams while you manage/grow (?) the business? That or completely shut down the business next year, no exceptions. Without knowing the type of business, it's difficult to say more.

Sorry to hear about your daughter, hope she's on the mend soon

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

And some people don't have relatives

[RussAbbotofUnreason]

Staff takes absence she's entitled to.

Nothing to see here

Oh and op stop moaning.

[kbbeanie]

Sorry but i think YABU....its your business you are the one making money from it ...i get this from my employer when i ring in sick (which isnt very often) about how they have to cover my work etc....sorry but thats what you signed up to when you took on a business ! You have to put in what you want out of your own business !
I dont blame the employee either my child would always come before my paid job as i am firstly a mother !

[3littlefrogs]

Close for 2 weeks next year.
Consider it a lesson learned.

[woowoo22]

What industry are you in?

[Storytown]

Presumably staff get paid leave, so it was overtime/extra cash for the woman who wanted to work. If it suits the business and you to close down over Christmas then, of course you should just close.

YABU to be irritated that this has caused you hassle after you did her a favour, but YABU to think she has any control over it.

If you're using zero hours or some other arrangement that means the staff don't get paid while you're closed, then YABVU.

[Storytown]

Sorry, YANBU to be irritated....

[CassieBearRawr]

But she had relatives lined up to care the the child while she was at work anyway.

YANBU OP. Just shut shop next year, I would.

[OneHandFlapping]

YANBU - you went out of your way to do your employee a good turn, which has only resulted in more stress and work for you.

Vent away.

[MissDuke]

Op you sound like a lovely employer to me, perhaps I read a different post to the above posters :-/ I can see why you are frustrated. I am sure your employee is very frustrated too. Definitely insist on closing next year. Do the staff not get any holiday pay at Christmas? I don't think it is unreasonable to dictate when staff take holidays, so long as it is made clear to them in advance of their employment commencing. They have a year to prepare their finances for next Christmas, so you are not unreasonable to close the business. Do make it clear at the first opportunity though, and explain that it is because if they work for even two days, it prevents you from being off, it is NOT because this employee had a sick child.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

If you are paying them holiday for the two weeks as you should be then why do they need to work?

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Having relatives lines up usually makes no difference

Sometimes children need their parents when they are Ill

Sounds very much like OP runs a zero hours set up and this poor woman was looking to eat between Christmas and new year, how shockingly bad form for her child to get sick, v inconvenient!

[Viviennemary]

I suppose these things can't be helped. But it is annoying. Just close next year.

[MissDuke]

Do you not still build up holiday entitlement on zero hours contracts, based on what you actually work? I am not too well clued in on these things :-/