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AIBU?

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Original poster

Girls arriving and leaving work early morning late evening

322 replies

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 29/01/2026 09:35

I know I'll probably be told off but just for traffic posting on here.

My husband and I run a company and we have two younger girls who run the office with us.

Husband and I are going away for three weeks for a wedding and making a family holiday of it as it's over the other side of the world.

We have an office that's on an industrial estate and is very dark and not well lit in the mornings and evenings- and we start early due to the nature of the business 5.30/6am to get all the boys in and out with job pack if they are required on the day.

Normally we pick the girls up on the way in and drop them home during the winter for safety as they are local.

I know it's probably over the top of me but we are worried about them feeling safe getting in and out on their own in the mornings and evenings (it is a sketchy South London Industrial estate)- does anyone have any suggestions to make them feel a bit safer. We have a ring camera set up on the door of the office.

None of the boys can bring them in as they have material to pick up.

OP posts:
Tulipsriver · 30/01/2026 09:27

PuppyMonkey · 30/01/2026 08:45

I think in view of the fact they’ll be running business while you’re away, the offer of paying for their transport is the very least they can expect. Hope they’ll be getting a big bonus too.

For doing their job whilst their colleagues are on annual leave? What a bizarre take on a completely normal situation. Or should the OP never go on holiday because she owns the business?

Sensiblesal · 30/01/2026 09:26

HolesInTheAlbertHall · 29/01/2026 12:00

Far more concerning the level of reading ability of the average MN poster.

Offering taxis is kind, and a sign of a good employer.

Refusing to accept that adults can make their own risk assessment and forcing the matter is patronising.

As others have said, they might feel less safe with an Uber than travelling in together - it is for them to decide.

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the OP as the employer has a duty of care towards their employees. Its not for the employees to do their own riak assessments. The OP should have a lone working policy and risk assessments in place. The employees should then follow the process.

If the OP doesn’t do this and anything happens to the employees then its on the OP, they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves with ‘well the people on mumsnet who have never worked a day in their life said they should do their own risk assessments & that the real issue was me calling them girls, they are adults responsible for theit own safety & I shouldn’t micromanage’

totally acceptable defence

Tulipsriver · 30/01/2026 09:25

I'm not sure why you are getting a hard time OP, you sound lovely!

It's not wildly uncommon for employers to risk assess travel to and from work either. I used to work for an organisation that sent support workers to people's homes. Shifts that started early/finished late or were in particularly dodgy areas always had a risk assessment attached. This sometimes meant sending workers in pairs or in taxis 🤷‍♀️

ClearFruit · 30/01/2026 09:24

Your business sounds like an employment tribunal waiting to happen.

Katypp · 30/01/2026 09:15

PuppyMonkey · 30/01/2026 08:45

I think in view of the fact they’ll be running business while you’re away, the offer of paying for their transport is the very least they can expect. Hope they’ll be getting a big bonus too.

Ah yes. The usual 'all business owners are evil' response, this time without even taking the bother to even read the thread.
What a silly post

Original poster
OneCheeryGoldMoose · 30/01/2026 08:54

PuppyMonkey · 30/01/2026 08:45

I think in view of the fact they’ll be running business while you’re away, the offer of paying for their transport is the very least they can expect. Hope they’ll be getting a big bonus too.

...Have you read any of the thread, or indeed my original post. I really am baffled by some of the responses on here.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 30/01/2026 08:45

I think in view of the fact they’ll be running business while you’re away, the offer of paying for their transport is the very least they can expect. Hope they’ll be getting a big bonus too.

Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:39

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CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 08:34

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What if their parents have to get themselves to work? What if they are living independently like I was at that age?

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 08:32

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She didn't rule out taxis. They can use one if they want, they are on her uber account. It's an ideal solution.

Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:29

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PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 30/01/2026 08:28

HolesInTheAlbertHall · 29/01/2026 09:44

If they are over 18 then I would trust that they can risk assess for themselves.

Nice of you to offer, patronising for you to not listen to them.

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This. OP offered (which was very kind) and they declined. That’s all there is to it.

Original poster
OneCheeryGoldMoose · 30/01/2026 08:26

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Cool, but we have offered so...I really don't see what everyone's issue is. I am planning to keep these girls employed until such time they can progress and either start their own company up or become supervisors in mine, so I look after my staff- it is insane that people are finding issue with that.

OP posts:
Original poster
OneCheeryGoldMoose · 30/01/2026 08:22

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They've said it's their next three weekends sorted 😂.

Obviously in a joke context before people start jumping on me.

OP posts:
Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:21

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Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:19

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Original poster
OneCheeryGoldMoose · 30/01/2026 08:17

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Yes they did.

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InNewYorkNoShoes · 30/01/2026 08:16

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Exactly. . . So you wouldn’t be happy about them leaving in the dark alone like @OneCheeryGoldMoose you would do something about it.

Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:15

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Original poster
OneCheeryGoldMoose · 30/01/2026 08:14

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I've added our card to the girls uber accounts for them to use if they want to. They're locking the door behind them and we've ordered them alarms.

OP posts:
Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:14

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InNewYorkNoShoes · 30/01/2026 08:12

FrenchandSaunders · 29/01/2026 09:59

Only on MN would a kind thoughtful gesture like this be reframed as patronising and controlling ....

All the people bitching would be the first ones to complain if their precious child was left to leave work in the dark alone whilst the employer was on holiday!

Flipitthen · 30/01/2026 08:07

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Jc2001 · 30/01/2026 08:04

DeanStockwell · 29/01/2026 09:45

You say the boys can't do it, is it that they don't want to or more of a timing / shift scheduled issue ?
Could you get them to start early/ finish later and pay them extra to cover the time and fuel ?

Or you could trust them do what they said and come together. They don't really need the 'boys' to come to their rescue. That's so patronising to the men and the women (I'm assuming they're all not school age, so not sure why we're calling the boys and girls).

MTOandMe · 30/01/2026 08:00

Sunshineandblueskysalltheway · 29/01/2026 18:07

'If that's offended some people you would have a breakdown with the rest of the things we all call each other lol.'

I wouldn't be offended. I would be too busy laughing at the look on your stupid face at the employment tribunal. Lol.

Not every one in employment is pappy enough to get offended about anything enough to take their employer to tribunal. Especially when you work in the trades. I’m the only ‘girl’ in my office, which sounds surprisingly like the OP’s and after 12 years here and some truly blue banter back and forth, still never been offended.