paternity and work problem

[LilQueenie]

hi, I am hoping someone can help here. My DP works weekends at a supermarket nights. He doesnt like it and it would appear not many people like the fact he can manage on this wage alone when they work full time.

Problem is mostly his boss/supervisor. She is the nosy type - wants dirt on everyone.

He told he he would be taking paternity leave - she said dont worry I will take care of it for you. However she didnt tell him about any holdidays he was entitled to and has taken time getting back to him when he handed in his list of dates for them then left out 4 days he is entitled to. Not only that she wont let him take the 2 days off before my due date (which I really needed as Im a bit nervous being on my own so close to teh date) she made him wait until after the baby is born!

I got him to hand in a letter stating my due date and the fact he would like paternity leave the first working day after our child is born, He was given the original back and they kept the photocopy. Is this right?

Now she is saying he cant keep his mobile with him on the shop floor. The reason he does is for emergenceis. He was also made to open his locker so she could check for his phone! Can she single him out to do this? He was the only one and only becuase he was using during his BREAK to call me. There are several reasons I need him to have his phone on him at all times. She has said he can only have it on him on my due date. (well lets hope baby is one of the 5% who arrive on that particular date!) I feel she is out of order and would like to know our rights here. There is a shop phone but that is no good as Im not convinced it would be answered as it hasnt been in the past.

Any advice would be helpful and appreciated thanks.

[melvinscomment]

I don't know what the "rules" are for supermarket staff. Looks like they aren't allowed to have their mobiles with them when they are on the shop floor. Perhaps there is some sort of office at the store with a phone your partner can get the number of for you to ring, ie as an alternative of going via the phone number provided for members of the public to phone the store company on, which as you say may take a while to get through on.

[melvinscomment]

@ LilQueenie :- Whatever your partner does, it will be best for him to do it diplomatically, it not being a good idea to get on the wrong side of one's supervisor!

[canyou]

I know as a section manager in a well known supermarket for a while no-one was allowed their mobile ph on the floor so yes afaik she can say he cannot have his ph on his person but can ring/text who ever he wants at break time.
RE The paternity letter why was he given the original back? If I were him I would go in Day time and hand it over to HR and check hols, entitlements etc while there.
Lockers, check his terms and conditions, we could not open/ask anyone to open their lockers with out a very good reason[theft or drugs we were to call the police] and then we had to have a witness as could the person who owned the locker.