Manager leaving me with her child?

[Cherrycola123]

I sort of know I'm not BU but I need to know how to deal with this. I don't want to give too many details because I don't know if she's on mumsnet - although I doubt it.

I work in shop and I'm the only employee. I'm often asked to go above and beyond because its a small business, so travelling in to cover for half an hour or ordering/making deliveries which I don't get paid for. This is fine with me. Its part and parcel of small business

However the other day I was alone in the shop and my manager brings her 6 year old in. The 6yo should have been in school so my manager couldn't cancel an important hour long meeting off site. She told me that the 6yo was "staying in the shop" but that I didn't have to look after her.. which is a bit ridiculous as its exactly what I was doing

One foot out the door, she turns around and informs me that she's got a stomach bug and if she's sick just text to let her know

AIBU to be really really cross about this? She was gone for over an hour and I couldn't reach her by phone when her child starting crying and being really poorly. I don't yet have children (trying) so I'm not sure but AIBU?

As well as this, how can I stop this happening again? She's quite stern and temperamental so I don't feel I can say that I don't want to look after her children - and run her shop..

[HamletsSister]

YANBU. Not sure what to do. Perhaps text her (so you have a written record) or e-mail and say something like:

"While I understand that childcare can be difficult please do not ask me to look after x during my working day again as it is not part of my job description and it was difficult for me and for x."

[araiwa]

I was a manager and the owner asked me to take care of his kids for a bit during work because he had to be in a meeting.

I got paid to go to the park and eat ice cream- great.

I also fired someone for not doing something i asked them to do. Something reasonable and to do with the business. But it wasnt in their job description! Well neither was insubordination so bye bye

Im not sure ive helped really

[MrsJayy]

Did you tell her her child was crying when she came back? I Think you are going to be more assertive with your boss she is taking the piss stop doing the extra mile jobs for her show her that you are not a walk over say sorry that doesn't suit me to come in or stay late also do have the written proof that you can't watch her child for her again say it like a pp sugested, your boss is seeing you imo as a pushover.

[Ficklemarket]

Dreadful thing to do.

[catkind]

Getting paid to go to the park and eat ice cream and getting paid to try to do your job with a miserable 6 yr old throwing up all over the shop is not quite the same thing is it?

I don't know the right answer OP, but there would be a certain poetic justice if you caught the bug and had a couple of days off in the sunshine.

More seriously, getting something in writing sounds like a good plan. Maybe pointing out as you said that you are happy to go beyond the call of duty in xyz ways but looking after sick children is not fair on you or the child.

[pluck]

What everyobe else said.

Also: she calls you in for half an hour's work? I do hope she at least pays that, but, God, that is really tight. Please don't say she's trying to keep you under the 16 hours a week (think that's correct) for tax credits!

She sounds like a monstrous employer.

[RaptorInaPorkPieHat]

travelling in to cover for half an hour or ordering/making deliveries which I don't get paid for

If you are on minimum wage (or close to it) they need to be very careful as this could easily take you under minimum wage which is illegal.

Plus they should be paying you for your time worked.

[HorridHenryrule]

Monday morning call in sick and tell her you have caught a stomach bug. That'll teach her!!

[HorridHenryrule]

She must have thought she won the jack pot when she hired you. Free labour and child care are you desperate to keep the job is there nothing better for you.

[MrsJayy]

Call in sick is a very good idea 24hr bug you think but not to sure it is really passive aggessive though doit

[JaneEyre70]

I hope you are paid extremely well for the hours you do work, as you are frankly being taken the piss out of right left and centre. Why are you working hours you aren't being paid for and covering for such silly times? My DH runs a small business as does my Mum and there is no way in a million years they would behave that unprofessionally with their staff.

[Supermagicsmile]

Yanbu!

[hickorydickorynurseryrhyme]

Disgusting! Some people have such a fu*king nerve!!

[Wormulonian]

Yeah - call in sick and start applying for a new job. You should be paid OT for the extra 1/2 hour covers etc and your travelling time and expenses as you are not on shift.

[MickeyRooney]

You're doing free work. Fair play to you - I refuse to do free work. I stopped doing that in my 20s.

Agree with others - you're being made a fool of.

[CiliatedEpithelium]

I stopped doing work I don't get paid for when I was 19. You are being taken advantage of in every respect. Stop answering your phone when you are 'off' is my advice. You have the right to a private life.

[StillDrivingMeBonkers]

I suppose it depends really - was the meeting really important to the success of the business? ie an order or a meeting with the bank? If so, how much do you like your job and want the business to flourish so you can keep it? I mean if you aren't fussed, then say no next time and if the business folds, don't expect any redundancy pay.

Whilst my answer is deliberately trite for effect it does contain a grain of truth. Not everything is black and white in this world. You can either help people out in an emergency or not. I suppose the way to look at is: would she mind you bringing your hypothetical child to work if she or he was ill?

[stevie69]

I got paid to go to the park and eat ice cream- great.

[stevie69]

I got paid to go to the park and eat ice cream- great.

Yes ... but it's not great for those of us who are not fond of parks, ice cream or children

I'm guessing that most of us undertake some duties that fall outside our job descriptions but surely it's totally unreasonable that the OP was left with a sick child, without consultation? Isn't it?

[Sorry, previous message was posted before I'd finished]

[Cherrycola123]

Thanks for the responses.

Just to say- if she had previously asked me- and not just told me that it was happening i might have been ok with it. But the dropping me in the shit and then also the child being ill?

It was a personal meeting also

[MickeyRooney]

nah - no new information needed.
you're being screwed.

[Willow2017]

Nope its her kid her problwm if they are ill. You can't leave a child to throw up in a shop! What if customers had come in and saw them throwing up. What if you had caught it and had to take time off? All because she wanted to go to a personal meeting. You aren't her Nanny you work in the shop.

And stop doing odd times for free. She should be doing it or paying you for your time. I hope you are not going into work just for half hour at a time that's crazy if you have to travel any distance.

[MrsJayy]

The circumstances dont need to be different she plonked her pukey child on you andleft she is chancing her arm and in the kindest way you are letting her.

[HorridHenryrule]

She is very lucky to have you what does your boyfriend think.