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Original poster

WIBU to call in sick rather than be late?

36 replies

Stupidtrains · 01/02/2019 10:59

I got a new manager about 6 months ago.

Yesterday my train was delayed, and I had all sorts of issues getting in to work. I arrived 30 minutes late. I work in an office and I didn't have any meetings all day.

My manager pulled me into a meeting to tell me off for being late, not letting her know I was going to be late, and for setting a bad example to the 2 new members of staff who recently joined our team.

I am SEETHING at her audacity to have a go at me as though I was deliberately late and for acting as though my new colleagues would be stupid enough to "copy" my lateness. I don't appreciate getting a telling off as though I was still at school.

This is literally the first time since she joined that I've been late.

I'm sorely tempted to just call in sick next time I have train issues.

OP posts:
SmackthePhony · 01/02/2019 11:01

What? Are you 18 and on an internship or something?! Are you generally not used to how the workplace functions?Hmm

Cosmos45 · 01/02/2019 11:05

I think the common rule of thumb is to let someone know you are running late. If i go to the office (I work from home a lot) and get stuck in traffic I either phone my boss or text him to let him know what is going on. Luckily he doesn't really care either way and wouldn't be that bothered whether I told him or not. However, I too would be really miffed at being treated like a child about being late due to something that was out of my control. Did you explain as you walked in the reason for being late and apologise?

costacoffeecup · 01/02/2019 11:06

I can sort of see your point here although I think you might get a pasting.

Our workplace is pretty relaxed - we all commute to London and sometimes trains go up the spout. One of my team didn't get in til 12 a few weeks ago because there were literally no trains on his line. I certainly wouldn't have had a word for something that was totally outside his control. I just asked him to try and make up the time in the next few days. It's unreasonable to blame you for train problems, happens to all of us at some point.

SmackthePhony · 01/02/2019 11:06

I just don’t get why you didn’t phone and say the trains are buggered, sorry, I’m doing my best to get in!

Considering in sick next time though....that is absolutely ridiculous.

costacoffeecup · 01/02/2019 11:08

You should have let her know though if you have a fixed start time.

PurpleDaisies · 01/02/2019 11:09

You should have let them know you were running late because of something outside your control. I bet it would have been fine then.

RavenLG · 01/02/2019 11:24

I have a fairly relaxed workplace and I’m often late because of public transport, but I’ll always at least whatsapp my manager to let her know I’m late. I imagine she would be pretty annoyed if I just turned up 30 minutes late with no explanation. Not sure why you think it’s appropriate to not let them know to be honest.

BoxOfBabyCheeses · 01/02/2019 11:33

I think the problem is that you didn't let them know that you would be late. I have an easy going manager, but if I just turned up half an hour late with no warning then I would get a bit of a telling off too.

She may have mentioned your new colleagues as they may have been asking where you were, and she had no answer to that. It does set a bad example, whether you want to admit it or not.

Ginger1982 · 01/02/2019 11:36

Why didn't you let her know you were going to be late?

Wolfiefan · 01/02/2019 11:36

Or you could just act like a grown up and contact the office if you’re running late. Confused

Sirzy · 01/02/2019 11:37

Next time just phone her and say “train is delayed I will be there as soon as possible but I will make up the time”

user1483387154 · 01/02/2019 11:37

You really should have called to tell them you would be late

Original poster
Stupidtrains · 01/02/2019 11:37

SmackthePhony

I've been here for 4 years!

Cosmos45

Did you explain as you walked in the reason for being late and apologise?

Yes, I said sorry I'm late, I had a nightmare with the trains etc. Then 10 minutes later she wanted a "catch up" and took me into a meeting room and had a go at me.

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 01/02/2019 11:44

Nhs staff here, we always have to ring ahead and let someone know if we are going to be late for any reason. Common curtesy afaic

Original poster
Stupidtrains · 01/02/2019 11:47

My work phone's battery had died otherwise I would have sent an email. It's not usually an issue, as I said it's the first time I've been late since she started.

I don't want to give her my personal number, she's already tried to follow me on Twitter and Instagram, which I find very intrusive.

I think I'll be pushed into it though as she's talking about setting up a group chat with the team.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 01/02/2019 11:58

I don’t think not wanting her to have your personal number is a suitable reason not to phone (not email!) to say there was a delay

purplecorkheart · 01/02/2019 12:02

Sorry but I do think you should have phoned (not emailed). Could you not have withheld your number or taken the sim out of your workphone and put it in your personal phone

rainflowerstar · 01/02/2019 12:04

Your in the wrong. Like everyone said you ring in and tell someone your running late.

Original poster
Stupidtrains · 01/02/2019 12:07

Could you not have withheld your number or taken the sim out of your workphone and put it in your personal phone

Ahh I wish I'd thought of that!

OP posts:
thebeesknees123 · 01/02/2019 12:08

I'm with you op. Your boss is an arse. There are many reasons why you may not be able to ring in. I drive to work so it's a no no. They are always fine as,like you, I don't make a habit of it

MartaHallard · 01/02/2019 12:08

Late to work
Not letting office know
Work phone battery dead

Being late was outside your control, but all three together makes you look a bit disorganised. If your personal phone was charged and usable, why wasn't your work phone?

Gina2012 · 01/02/2019 12:18

YABVU

You should always let anyone (work or otherwise) know that you are going to be late

It makes no difference if this is the first time in 6 months

You were rude and unprofessional

MadameDD · 01/02/2019 12:22

If it was a significant delay (e.g. over 5-10 minutes) and if you were going to be late for a meeting then yes I would find a way of letting them know - even by email.

5-10 minutes generally I don't let people know I will be late. Trains making me late and it's longer then yes I let people know.

halfwitpicker · 01/02/2019 12:26

I'm sorely tempted to just call in sick next time I have train issues.

^

Yup. This is what I did last week. You call in sick and no-one asks questions, you're late half an hour and you get a bollocking.

Better to call in sick.

halfwitpicker · 01/02/2019 12:29

All this ringing to say OP is gonna be late is all well and good - but many offices wouldn't expect a call if she was only half an hour late. Flexi time and all that (even if she does have a usual getting in time)

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