Furious at ds work dismissal

Basically any job that involved dealing with the general public would break me quicker than you could say "Is there an app for that?"

The commute breaks many people, they are not going to run around screaming and get sectioned but something quietly dies inside at the futility of it all, for example this young gentleman was obviously so heavily traumatised by his excruciating 40 minute train ride every day that he was subconsciously making himself late as a way out.

ACAS most definitely can help

How many jobs ‘break your mind and body’ though?

I agree young people are not savvy enough to know that they have to prove themselves to be decent workers before they can start playing up about reasonable demands.

It depends whether you like your job and/or whether you want to progress though. I have been given my dream role through impressing the right people. In a lot of industries, part time staff aren’t taken as seriously.

Health conditions aside, I would hate to be part time but of course everyone is different. I have the best job in the world so I hate the idea.

I also want to prove the point that menopause doesn’t necessarily equal being unable to function in a role.

Good move, unless you have preference shares in the company it is very unlikely that breaking your mind and body for them over a period of years will have much benefit for you in the long run, many young people know this but they just don"t understand how to play the game and present properly, the key is to go part time and have other income ASAP, unless the company really aligns with big life goals you have for yourself.

So let me get this straight , your adult son could easily have gotten an earlier train to ensure his on time arrival at work but instead got a later train which consistently made him late ? And you are fuming because they dismissed him for consistently being late when all of the transport availability for him to be on time was there all along ? Erm I’m sorry but make this make sense! Your son is old enough and capable enough to get to work on time and if he can’t manage to schedule his transport and timely arrival the same as all his colleagues do then I’m not surprised his employment has been terminated. In the current job market you need to show commitment, honesty and respect and the ability to problem solve as the basics, the fact your son didn’t get the earlier available train that would get him to work on time shows that he lacks these skills and you are probably not helping him by not pointing out he only has himself to blame. The there there cream isn’t going to fix this for mummy’s little soldier unfortunately, he needs to learn from this mistake and pull his finger out / get up and get to work on time for his next job. My eldest has worked since she turned 17 and as soon as she could she learned to drive so she could get herself to work and back, before she could drive we used to drop her in when we could but if we couldn’t she walked or got other forms of transport.

An employer who expects an employee to start on time and get their work done does not equal "a toxic workplace".

That is basically what happens… it’s ridiculous. They don’t get why someone who was prepared to put themselves out time and again will be promoted!

We all want work life balance but employers want staff that are worth it to their company. In my experience, those who are flexible and reliable get further than those who aren’t.

Not remotely jealous - it’s why many places don’t like to employ younger staff. It’s a win/win

If the thought of working outside contracted hours upsets someone then they should work in a field that has no requirement for it.

A friend of mine works in a law firm and their entire team had to work literally every hour over evenings and weekends coming up to a stamp duty change.

Of course they could risk telling their clients it was tough shit and that, despite the hundreds of thousands of fees that kept the company going, they couldn’t get it all done within contracted hours…

DS is fine. He usually works 9-5 but on occasion he'll work later. If work needs to get done and the client has deadlines they put a shift to get things done.

My DH works incredibly long hours as a big 4 director. Often taking calls on weekends and on annual leave. But as the man in charge, it's expected and there's a reason he's paid a lot. Guess some people are tough and can handle it when the going gets tough and don't just shut their laptops at 5pm.

They weren't necessarily toxic and they gave opportunities to really ambitious people.

Now it sounds as if everyone sits there defending their work life balance and then complaining that they never get to earn a really high salary.

Again. There are plenty of things to do after 7pm. Also when the going gets tough you have to put an extra shift in. DS isn't soft. He's stayed later and longer. Once did a 1am.

His friend at McKinsey worked till 11pm everyday this week and even did a 1am finish.

They shouldnt be- I know if you yourself worked yourself to the bone you think this is normal, but iut really isnt. I suspect a lot of older people are just jaded and jealous younger people can stand up for themselves (within reason, OPs son should have been ocming on time- it's the gloryfying of working yourself to an early grave Im opposing).

The weekends are a thing

Toxic workplaces and no work life balance are still going strong I see.

He can handle the workload and enjoys a bit of pressure

Exactly that! And they expect flexibility and working from home (apparently not too much wfh or they feel uncared for in the workplace).

Many jobs require some extra working - people who go into those sectors generally understand that. Yet the younger members of staff are out the door on the dot, leaving others to pick up the slack. Or they do it and expect every second of time back.

Even graduates often need handholding to a ridiculous degree over things that are common sense.

The problem is that schools are too lax and so are parents, so kids aren't adults at 19 and still expect to be treated as kids. And then they wonder why firms won't set on young people and prefer to employ older people who know that it is expected to be on time for work each and every day.

I should hope so. As someone who has worked more extra hours than I can count over my career, I can’t imagine rocking up late just because of working til 7.00 the night before.

But then I remember working 9 am to 11 pm (no payment for the overtime) without a break, then being expected to come in early the next day!

You need to be teaching your son better timekeeping habits not gobbing off that he’s been sacked because of it!
I have a 2 hour commute twice a week and I leave the house 2 1/2 hrs before I start work to allow time for traffic etc. Swanning in a couple of minutes late everyday is not ok! I’m guessing he was then having his full lunch break and leaving at the correct time and in no way trying to make up for the lost time! I’d also be questioning your sons version of events that they said that was fine if they have now sacked him!

When did young people get indoctrinated with this message that some spells of hard work will somehow harm a healthy individual?

Why didn’t you tell him to get an earlier train?

Why didn’t he think to get an earlier train?

you come on here to complain about the company who sacked an employee for being repeatedly late. Rather than see it as an opportunity to teach him a life lesson. Clearly you need it too.

Why didn't he catch an earlier train to begin with? You can't be late every day and expect your employer to be happy with it.

Both you and your son sound thick as mince. You for believing him when he said his new employer told him it was Ok to be consistently late for work and him for not having the nous to understand you get to work, particularly a new job, on time by setting off earlier.

Fortunately I'm 10 years retired but my understanding is it's a pretty tough job market out there right now. It's tough for everyone but especially for those just entering the job market with limited skills and experience.

Hopefully your son will take a life lesson from this and he gets a new role soon.