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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that "my car won't start" is not a reason for not coming to work

104 replies

OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:29

When you live on a bus route that will get you to your office ? Colleague phoned in with "car problems" which apparently mean she can't come in for the rest of the week Shock. She lives round the corner from my parents so I know full well that there is a bus route that goes pretty much from outside her house and goes past our office so it's not as if she can't get there

OP posts:
mollymole · 02/01/2013 09:30

YANBU they should get the bus

Sparklingbrook · 02/01/2013 09:32

YANBU, Where I used to work someone would have driven over to pick them up.

Original poster
OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:35

good point sparkling, there is someone else in the office that lives near her that could easily bring her in. We have a lot of people in our department that seem to think that attendance is optional.

OP posts:
EuphemiaInExcelsis · 02/01/2013 09:35

YANBU, if a bus is available. I have no public transport options to work, but even I would get a taxi/ask neighbours for a lift rather than not go to work.

slartybartfast · 02/01/2013 09:35

what sort of leave will she be taking? she would have to take annual leave surely.
sounds crazy that she cant go in by bus though

MaMattoo · 02/01/2013 09:36

Unless a part of the contract states that employee must only come to work in a car. She should cab, bus, walk. It does not matter if you know where she lives and if there is a bus or not. You work, you get to work by whichever means!
A whole week off - nice employer!!

LauriesFairyonthetreeeatsCake · 02/01/2013 09:36

It's a reasonable excuse to be an hour late, not otherwise.

Don't tell me she's getting paid?

fuzzypicklehead · 02/01/2013 09:37

I could see calling in for one day if your car won't start, to allow you to sort a mechanic or tow to a garage and get it running. A whole week seems excessive.

Sparklingbrook · 02/01/2013 09:38

My boss also had a 'snow map' for when it snowed. So if anyone rang in to say they couldn't get in because of the snow, if someone who lived by them had made it in they would be told to get to work.

insancerre · 02/01/2013 09:39

YANBU
Car problems does not warrant the rest of the week off.
But, if you didn't take the call and speak to her personally is it possible you only have half the story?
Maybe there are other issues so she doesn't want broadcasting?

happynewmind · 02/01/2013 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlienRefluxThanksFuckThatsOver · 02/01/2013 09:41

jesus that's some hangover to take another week! I agree she must have another issue she doesn't want to talk about. is the boss going to let that slide??!

usualsuspect3 · 02/01/2013 09:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HecatePropolos · 02/01/2013 09:41

Phone her up and say good news, you can get in after all. The number X bus is on your road, if you're at the bus stop for X time, it will get you into the office for Y time. See you tomorrow.

[Queen of P.A.] Wink

Original poster
OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:42

I think she's taking annual leave but the office is already very short staffed and the managers hadn't planned to have another person off so it leaves us 1 person under mininum staffing levels due to very high sickness abstractions

OP posts:
soverylucky · 02/01/2013 09:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:44

insancerre, the call was taken in the open office, she'd had problems with the car on monday so could have foreseen this occurring. The issue is definitely the car.

OP posts:
Original poster
OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:45

In the job I was in it was a nightmare as meant you had to do all their work too
Likewise

OP posts:
MrsKeithRichards · 02/01/2013 09:46

What's her manager saying? In fact hopefully they aren't saying anything as that isn't professional but surely she can't get away with that? There must be something else going on?

SantasENormaSnob · 02/01/2013 09:47

Yanbu at all.

It doesn't even warrant a day off imo.

And I don't think paid leave should be granted as its now left your workplace short.

MrsMushroom · 02/01/2013 09:48

Yabu she may have a tank of petrol and no cash at all. I know because we've been there.

showtunesgirl · 02/01/2013 09:48

YANBU. When it snowed a couple of years ago, a colleague where I work didn't come in for FOUR days claming that the snow was keeping her at home. She actually lives on the same train line as me, which was working and is only two stops up from me.

Failing that, there was a bus that went from the end of her road to near where we work.

And we're not in some rural place either, we work in London!!!

Original poster
OhDearNigel · 02/01/2013 09:54

Yabu she may have a tank of petrol and no cash at all. I know because we've been there

I doubt it. We only got paid about 5 days ago. We get a good wage and her DH runs a very sucessful business so very unlikely she can't afford £3 to get the bus

OP posts:
MrsMushroom · 02/01/2013 09:57

you know nothing of her financial situation though. Some people are so up to their eyes in debt that the whole lot goes on payday.

SantasENormaSnob · 02/01/2013 10:06

The financial situation is irrelevant imo.

Work isn't a luxury you choose to attend when you can afford it.

Why should your colleagues, bosses, clients/patients suffer?

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