Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

People who can’t drive

44 replies

Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:22

I work in day nursery and we all do shift work, we take it in turn with the different start and finish times. There’s one girl
who doesn’t drive and doesn’t live in same direction as anyone to share lifts. Regardless of what time she starts she finishes in time for bus. My issue is that means I usually end up
having to stay an extra 30/45mins to cover to ensure we stay in numbers.
this usually falls to me and the other girl that works in the same age group.
i understand that it’s good she is working but I am filling pretty annoyed that i usually end up working till the later shift just because she can’t drive it’s like I am been penalised for her not having a life skill.

rant over

OP posts:
MyNameIsErinQuin · 04/05/2025 14:25

It’s the management that you should be resentful of. You don’t know why she can’t drive. My son has epilepsy and will never be able to drive. It’s a life skill that done people will never be able to learn.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 04/05/2025 14:26

You need to discuss that with management/whoever does the scheduling.

TeenToTwenties · 04/05/2025 14:27

You are getting paid for this aren't you?

(I realise that isn't the point, but just checking.)

BobbyBiscuits · 04/05/2025 14:29

If I was her and the boss didn't object then I'd do the same. So you must speak to managers about you doing extra hours you aren't contracted to.

It's true to say it's her own problem if the busses are only once an hour or whatever. But you shouldn't feel resentful of her because she can't drive. It's time consuming and expensive to learn and also run a car. It's not something everyone is easily able to do.

MightAsWellBeGretel · 04/05/2025 14:30

I'm confused as to why this is about 'people' who can't drive when your post is about one particular 'girl'.

How old is she if she a girl? Nursery work isn't the highest paid and driving lessons are expensive. There is also still a wait for driving tests in some areas. If she's 18 or 19 you're being a bit harsh!

As PPs have said, this is a management issue.

Streetsofgold · 04/05/2025 14:32

This is not due to not driving - it's her taking advantage. I do not drive and I am rarely late for appointments or work. I never arrive late or leave early, I also raised 2 kids going everywhere on public transport. I managed fine. You are fed up with her taking advantage of being a none- driver it's up to you to inform your boss that the current shift pattern is not working - and not blame the situation on not driving.

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 04/05/2025 14:32

Are you saying she’s late regularly to start a shift? Is management aware of this? Are you getting paid overtime for covering?

Original poster
Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:33

@MyNameIsErinQuin no medical condition she says she wants to learn but can’t afford to at moment

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda i have but there’s not much they can do if she doesn’t get the bus she they only run every hour

@TeenToTwenties time in lieu but can only be used when suits business

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 04/05/2025 14:33

This is a management issue, not a 'people who can't drive' issue.

Rant in the right direction.

BoredZelda · 04/05/2025 14:34

Streetsofgold · 04/05/2025 14:32

This is not due to not driving - it's her taking advantage. I do not drive and I am rarely late for appointments or work. I never arrive late or leave early, I also raised 2 kids going everywhere on public transport. I managed fine. You are fed up with her taking advantage of being a none- driver it's up to you to inform your boss that the current shift pattern is not working - and not blame the situation on not driving.

It isn’t her taking advantage of anything. It is her negotiating a start and finish time with her employer and sticking to it. If OP wants to do the same, she should. Doing extra work is a choice.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/05/2025 14:34

I read this as she leaves early to get a bus everyday. Could she get a later bus a couple of times a week?

NuffSaidSam · 04/05/2025 14:37

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/05/2025 14:34

I read this as she leaves early to get a bus everyday. Could she get a later bus a couple of times a week?

I was assuming this was the last bus otherwise surely she could just get the later bus everyday.

HollyBerryz · 04/05/2025 14:37

If you're staying 30/45mins and the bus is every hour why can't she stay then just wait for a bus? Are you being paid for this time? They can't force you to work beyond your contracted hours.

friendsonly · 04/05/2025 14:39

Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:33

@MyNameIsErinQuin no medical condition she says she wants to learn but can’t afford to at moment

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda i have but there’s not much they can do if she doesn’t get the bus she they only run every hour

@TeenToTwenties time in lieu but can only be used when suits business

Well are you going to pay for her to learn?

The other solution is you take it up with your manager.

Original poster
Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:41

I wasn’t clear sorry she isn’t late

but her working pattern is determined by the buses so she can only work set times which means she never starts on the early shift or finishes on late shift.
If we are both due to finish at the same time but there are still too many children left to allow us both to go and ratios to be maintained it’s always her that’s gets to go due her getting the bus and I stay to cover. I don’t mind doing my fair share but feels unfair. Conveniently if someone can go early (less children than expected) she is happy to go and get the earlier bus 🙄

OP posts:
Loveduppenguin · 04/05/2025 14:42

I would find a reason to HAVE to leave on time a few days next week and leave her stay and get the later bus. Simple

Frostynoman · 04/05/2025 14:45

Speak with management - if busses are hourly and she’s knocking off 30-45mins early then she needs to wait for the later bus which will be less of a wait for them. You can’t be expected to always pick up the slack and then not have say in how you can take the time owed

SwanOfThoseThings · 04/05/2025 14:46

Get rid of your car, then - tell your manager you can't afford to run it anymore - and ask for your working patterns (and every other aspect of your life) to be dictated by public transport. If you think that will give you a better life.

EmpressaurusKitty · 04/05/2025 14:47

Conveniently if someone can go early (less children than expected) she is happy to go and get the earlier bus 🙄

Well, that’s definitely not fair.

I tried driving, hated it & stopped, but I don’t let my choices impact on anyone else. Is it the final bus she usually catches or is there another one an hour later?

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 04/05/2025 14:49

So on days where drivers have to stay later to cover ratios, is there a later bus for her catch?

Original poster
Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:50

Her argument is if she leaves any later the next bus doesn’t get her home till 8pm (last shift finish’s at 6pm) also that is the last bus so if it missed she would be stuck

@friendsonly why would i pay for her to learn, I took responsibility and paid for my own lessons

OP posts:
Dearg · 04/05/2025 14:52

How far in advance do you know when you are rota’d on a late with her?

Once you know, go flag to your manager that you need to finish on time on that next day as you have a family commitment. Stick to that. You don’t need to explain what it is. Kudos for a sad face if you can. Just be clear that on this date it’s not negotiable, sorry.

It is not a driving issue, I can understand that she cannot afford lessons/ a car. It is a management issue and they are treating you unfairly, especially by not paying you, and dictating when you get time off in lieu.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 04/05/2025 14:53

If she missed the last bus, she'd have to sort something else out. A taxi, a bike, a one-off lift. I would keep pushing it with the manager.

Frostynoman · 04/05/2025 14:53

Then she gets a cab if she misses the late bus. This is part of being an adult!

She chose the job and knew its location. This is not your issue to sort. There needs to be some give and take here of her taking the later bus at least sometimes. Again, this is an issue management need to address and shouldn’t fall on you to support.

Brefugee · 04/05/2025 14:54

Frangipani2 · 04/05/2025 14:33

@MyNameIsErinQuin no medical condition she says she wants to learn but can’t afford to at moment

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda i have but there’s not much they can do if she doesn’t get the bus she they only run every hour

@TeenToTwenties time in lieu but can only be used when suits business

but there is a bus an hour later, and if she finishes 30 minutes early to get one bus then she only has to wait 30 minutes for the next one. Welcome to working life.

I would be telling management that i would be working to my hours because i have X thing that i need to do after work, and that would be it. Non driving woman (not girl) can grow up and behave like an adult, and management can stop giving one person preferential treatment. Or you work out a like-for-like form of preferential treatment for you (coming in later etc)