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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Bonsoir · 02/02/2011 11:10

The HR manager made an unreasonable request, not a rude one, according to the OP.

We all have to deal with unreasonable requests every (part of life). Responding to other people's unreasonable requests politely is part of adult life.

Slugontoast · 02/02/2011 11:10

I'm not a lawyer, and have not read all the thread, but I thought that everyone, working a normal day's work, was entitled to a 1/2 hour break by law. I also thought that if you are asked to work outside in (bad weather), then your employers should provide the appropriate additional clothing required, free.

IMO the manager is the one being unreasonable who should be facing disciplinary action.

Bonsoir · 02/02/2011 11:11

Physical violence is very rare at work - unlike unreasonable requests, which are a standard part of the working day. But I would always show the upper hand by being cool and polite, even if physically attacked.

juleswill · 02/02/2011 11:19

We are all (or should I say, most of us (Bonsoir)) human, and showing annoyance on face, or being a bit whingy on a single occasion, are not reasons for disciplinary action, and an appeal would most likley be upheld in tribunal

lesley33 · 02/02/2011 11:44

Yes you legally have to have a half hour break - but the OP wasn't necessarily being denied this.

You have to provide suitable clothing in some circumstances. However, this does not include people walking outside on pavements. Lots of people walk to meetings or walk from a car to a meeting or second place of work - clothes do not have to be provided in this type of situation.

If you are a grounds maintenance person working outside in the rain all day, then yes suitable clothing has to be provided.

AxisofEvil · 02/02/2011 11:47

jukeswill - If I were the HR manager no I wouldn't want her disciplined but I wouldn't be impressed with the OP.

TheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea · 02/02/2011 11:55

Hahahaha

Please.

lesley33 · 02/02/2011 11:59

In terms of a lunch break, it sounds as if the OP takes her lunch break at a time to suit her. It is very common in offices for people to decide when they take their lunch break, within a 2 or 3 hour period. Legally if she is given time to take a break but works through it, then this is her choice.

You could ask for a set time for lunch break; but you would need to weigh this up as it may be that you would lose the flexibility to take it at a time to suit you.

Being interrupted very occasionally during a lunch break is I think not a big problem. But if it happens a lot I think this is something you need to talk to your line manager about.

Also I don't think it is professional to whinge at work. But people aren't robots. So if this does happen I do think an apology is in order.

juleswill · 02/02/2011 13:03

TheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea I didn't know quite how to respond to that one but you have done it perfectly! Thank you!

TheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea · 02/02/2011 13:07

You're very welcome, jules

swanandduck · 02/02/2011 13:07

Faults on both sides. Being 'whingey' with your manager is not really on. But asking a staff member to go out in the rain to buy lunch, when they're in the middle of their own lunch is not a mannerly way to treat someone either.

Disciplinary action is way over the top. Surely the line manager has better things to do.

cumfy · 02/02/2011 13:21

Did you really tell her to "perhaps plan better" when she asked what people normally did in the situation ?

Top reply. :o

Original poster

worknotworking · 02/02/2011 16:29

I'm back - wow at all the responses.

No I didn't tell her to plan better, think I said something like "I usually get some notice" or it doesn't normally arise.

Bonsoir, I couldn't help showing annoyance in my face, it was a request totally out of the blue with no attempt at sofening it with appologies, I guess I then attempted to justify my annoyance which made things worse. Not that I thought it through at the time but I wanted her to know that it wasn't a request I was happy with. If I had cheerfully gone and done it (and yes, I should have) then it would probably have kept happening.
Walk was 10mins each way, 20in total and to be fair I had shoes and coat that would have been ok in the weather.

My relationship with her has always been fine.

OP posts:

Myleetlepony · 02/02/2011 23:19

What have you done about the threatened disciplinary action?

xstitch · 02/02/2011 23:29

Bonsoir it is very hard to remain cool, calm and collected when you are physically attacked. I can honestly say I have never hit back, never shouted or sworn at an attacker but it is impossible not to have some reaction as many such reactions are involuntary. The fear, pain and shock makes you shake. You can call me a coward if you like but it is scary. It also hurts so it is hard not to put your hand to where it hurts. It is also difficult not to at least have a tear in your eye.

I can say though that after being attacked although ashamedly taking a few minutes (by that I mean 3/4 min) to compose myself I carried on working and returned to work the next day.

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