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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Probably - my boss thinks so

90 replies

worknotworking · 01/02/2011 19:53

Am a regular lurker but namechanged for this just in case.

I'm the office dogsbody in a small office. Most of what I do is last minute and unplannable and I'm quite happy with that but..
I was having lunch today when the hr manager suddenly came out and asked me to go and get some lunch for a visitor. Problem is it's a 10 minute walk each way to the nearest shop and the weather was foul (5 minutes previuosly a collegue had started to walk to the shop and come back in for his car).

So I really didn't want to go and the annoyance was clear on my face and I said something whingy. Manager asked what we usually do (plan better) and if there are no nearer options (no - sandwich van had been and gone). So I agreed to go - ok grudgeingly and then had a brainwave and rang the collegue with the car. All sorted I thought.

But hr manager complained to line manager about my attitude. Yes it was a bad attitude but I think it was an unreasonalbe request (and she made no attempt to appologies for interrupting my lunch or sending me). She wants me to face disiclipinary action for this.

I think - although it is my job - it was an unreasonalbe request and am hoping someone will agree with me.

Thanks for reading - bit ranty but this has really upset me.

OP posts:
Katey1010 · 01/02/2011 19:55

Are you supposed to get a lunch break (according to your contract)? If you are then your HR Manager was being U.

bubblewrapped · 01/02/2011 19:56

Were you on your official lunch break?

I think its fair that the manager is complaining about your attitude though if you were rude and obstructive to them.

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 19:58

I don't have an offical lunch break - just take 1/2 an hour whenever and I was sitting at my desk. But I had a half eaten chicken roll in my hand.

OP posts:
Seabright · 01/02/2011 19:58

Maybe 50/50. Disiplinary action sounds way over the top.

Is it part of your normal job that you don't have a full lunch break if something needs doing? If you've agreed that as part of your job, YAB a bit U. If not, you're not.

Either way, it would have been polite of her to apologise for interupting your break.

LindyHemming · 01/02/2011 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 20:00

I'm not fussed about the lunch break really - though I would expect an apology for disturbing it. I usually answer phones and things while I'm eating.

OP posts:
Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 20:02

I don't think I was particularly rude, just not smilling and instantly agreeing to do it. Obstructive is fair enough I guess.

OP posts:
maxybrown · 01/02/2011 20:03

You are entitled to a lunch break though - best thing is not to make rod for your own back and never do anything in lunch hour!

deste · 01/02/2011 20:03

Do you have a specific lunch hour or just when you can fit it in? TBH I would not like to be working with someone who has an attitude. We are all asked to do things we dont want to do but when you are working for someone its not just on your terms. Is there anything else that springs to mind that you didn't want to do but did it grudgingly. This might give you a clue to the disciplinary action.

maxybrown · 01/02/2011 20:03

But no form what you have said it all sounds a bit extreme of them tbh!

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 20:03

I think (hope) that my line manager won't take it as far as a disiplinary (and he's senior to her) but she made it clear she wants him to although sort of accepting my appology.
Thanks people, it's helping to talk it over.

OP posts:
chitchatingagain · 01/02/2011 20:03

You may be the general dogsbody, but it's a difficult job made much more difficult by other people basically taking the piss. They had a visitor, and they didn't plan. Instead of apologising for forgetting to let you know in advance, your boss just ordered you - while you were on your own lunch break - to go and get lunch for a visitor. That shows an incredible lack of planning and foresight on HIS part.

BUT ..... in all honesty you could have handled this much better. If you are generally available all the time and don't make an issue out of people demanding things at the last minute, then what do you expect? They will continue to do so. So yes, your attitude did stink, but not enough for disciplinary action, I would have thought.

How you deal with this further is up to you. I would write it down in a much less whingy manner than your OP. Find out when the HR manager knew the visitor would be there (ie how much notice they had) and what other options would have been available had THEY thought it through, and submit as a defence. Include the fact that you were on a lunch break, and as such could easily NOT have been in the office anyway. In a disciplinary action you have the right of response, and your Manager's poor planning will then be on record should they ever try to make issues of things again.

deste · 01/02/2011 20:05

My answer was written before the others came up so having read your answers mine might be a little harsh.

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 20:06

I'd have been nearly as pissed off about it if it wasn't on my lunch hour tbh. I really didn't want to to the walking. But if she'd asked me before I'd started lunch I could have done some shopping or something while I was down there.

OP posts:
52Girls · 01/02/2011 20:07

I think an apology would have been appropriate (for interrupting your break). Had the HR boss given one I don't think you would have been stroppy at all. In fact it sounds like you're very flexible in your job - we all like to be appreciated. HR bod was wrong.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 01/02/2011 20:07

Think disciplinary action is a bit harsh.

southeastastra · 01/02/2011 20:09

i used to have to get lunch for about 10 people - they always complained and send me back for extra cucumber or something Grin

i think it needs to be made clear if that sort of thing is part of your job

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 20:11

Fair enough deste - I didn't find it harsh. I'm generally very good with dropping everything for other peoples random requests - and, as you say, it is my job. I've certainly never made it as clear as this that I wasn't happy to do something. However (aibu by stealth sorry) - I am under a lot of pressure at work generally, not being able to do my job in the time I have. My boss is aware of this.

Thanks chitchat - meeting planned at least a week ago.

OP posts:
tribpot · 01/02/2011 20:17

If I were your boss I would have framed it as 'oh god, I'm really sorry - unexpected visitor, is there any way you can organise lunch?' and have been very pleased when you hit on the notion of asking the colleague already out to bring it back. Esp as you were having to interrupt your own lunch to sort.

Facing disciplinary - pfffft, ridiculous over-reaction.

igetmorelovefromthecat · 01/02/2011 20:22

I think your boss is an arse. YANBU at all.

I have done many crappy office jobs in my time and I have suffered idiot bosses like yours too.

Exactly the reason why I work for myself now. Not good at being ordered about. Especially by arseholes.

ajandjjmum · 01/02/2011 20:22

Disciplinary seems an over-reaction, but if getting lunch is part of your job, what is there to pull a face about?

I never fancy doing the filing, but it still has to be done. Grin

I know everyone says it should have been organised ahead, but sometime things don't go according to plan, and a meeting drags on longer than you expect.

mumbar · 01/02/2011 20:30

You work in an office therefore I guess the dress code is office attire? Therefore they cannot expect you to walk to a shop in extreme weather conditions (freezing/rainy/ high winds) and yes it is an unreasonable request. If they are discovering lunch needs to be provided for clients they should have some kitchen facilities.
yanbu.

Pancakeflipper · 01/02/2011 20:34

If this is the first time you've been whingy then it's OTT.

If you have displayed previous attitude then they might be fed up of you.

SarahTonin · 01/02/2011 20:39

I'm with Tribpot - if I have to ask assistants to do something like this (especially last minute/because of bad planning) I'm the one apologising and saying Would you mind....what's the harm in being polite especially if you need to be persuasive (please and thanks never go amiss either).

As you say it's unofficially part of your job description and you haven't minded in the past, try and clarify with line manager (also wrt to too much work too little time - he needs to work with you to prioritise what really needs to be done and what is desirabl/can be postponed to another day) what your job description is too.

HR person is being a twat - even more so because they are an HR person. Am not sure how they have managed to think they are able to discipline you when you got the task done albeit not in the way they initially wanted and during your lunch break but someone isn't keeping up to date with the Institute of Personnel Development and it ain't you. If they seriously think they can discipline someone for that they are walking into an employment law minefield.

OP - please take a look at the ACAS guide here www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2179

Do you have an employment contract? Can you get a copy from HR (cough cough can see how that might be tricky)? There should be some reference in there (or an employee handbook - have no idea how big or small your organisation is so will depend) as to what the discplinary procedures are and what constitutes misconduct. You don't have to go in hard with your legal rights, but knowing them in advance could help.

Also stuff on rest breaks (including lunch breaks) here: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029451

Original poster
worknotworking · 01/02/2011 21:10

Thanks - will look at the links but hopefully it won't go that far.
Very small office no other HR (I assist her aomwrimwa!).

It was lunch only for one person (a visitor). Getting lunch is normally part of my job but I generally get at least some notice.

Think my job description just says "and other reasonable duties" or something to cover this sort of thin.

Staff handbook sets out the stages of a disiciplinary process but not what constitutes misconduct.
Trying to get it straight in my head and what I should have done and why I did it.

OP posts: