AIBU - Issue with DS

[Dreamer1234]

My DS has had a paper round in the shop I work in for over a year and everything has been going fine until he was ill a few weeks ago.

As a result of the ongoing medication he received, he's struggled to get up early enough to make his round and called in sick a couple of times in the space of 2 weeks. After the most recent call-in, the shop owner simply told DS that he was fired.

I spoke to the owner and explained that DS has been ill and is still getting used to his medication but the owner simply rejected any explanation he gave. I also asked the owner if he didn't think to speak to me about this before telling DS was let go and he just laughed the suggestion off.

AIBU to think that DS has been shoddily treated here?

They're paid shit, the owner can get another paperboy. Its one of the closest things to slave labour imo. Maybe it's time for your boy to get a better job?

personally, I'd make a fuss. Stand my ground, that type of thing. Be a pita, push the matter, not accept the owner's high-handed attitude.

(disclaimer: I don't run a paper shop so I may be talking rubbish. I'm sure its not much use if paperboys/girls don't turn up but, all the same, you work there, he's your boy....)

Shop owner sounds like a twat. Is this the only time he's ever called in sick? If it is I'd want to drop my unreasonable boss in the shit and walk...if it was feasible.

He called in sick 3 times in the space of 2 weeks and the owner was aware that he had been suffering with these medical issues, which are psychiatric, before these incidents.

The annoying thing is that it is quite decent money for a paper round (£24 per week for a round that can be done in 20 minutes) and now I'm under pressure as a single mother as there's no way I can substitute that for him. As for getting another job, DS is only 14, nearly 15 so a paper round is really his only option.

Really don't know what I can do about this. I can't quit as I need the money. I'm so mad at the owner for laughing off my objection, that I'm tempted to obtain the money from him through other means (which would be easy as I work there)

Under a lot of stress just now and this isn't helping.

What do you mean by 'obtain money by other means'?

I'm so mad at the owner for laughing off my objection, that I'm tempted to obtain the money from him through other means (which would be easy as I work there)

You mean stealing?

You're a right example to your child arent you?

Regrettably, medication or not, your son has had his first introduction to the real world of work. Round these parts paper boys would get a friend to do the round or get some of the other boys to split it for those days. Thus keeping the job AND making sure their employer and customers were not let down

She means steal it.

Would you be able to talk to your boss and volunteer to the paper round for your son if he was ill again?

While I have every sympathy with your DS, being ill and getting used to new medication etc, I do kind of feel sorry for the shopkeeper being let down 3 times in 2 weeks- if I was off ill that often I might not get the sack, but it would definitely leave me open to a disciplinary. Especially if I was phoning up with just minutes before I was supposed to start or even after. Going on the fact that your DS has not woken early enough, presumably he is phoning at the very last minute and not leaving the shopkeeper time to get a replacement. Whereas if he phoned at the time he was supposed to be getting up, the shopkeeper might have an hour or so to phone round for someone.

Was he actually ill enough that he's unable to work, or was it that he just struggled with the early morning?

If he was still able to go into school on those days, then I think it's fair for him to lose his job. If he was genuinely too sick to work, then the boss is being an arse.

Either way, it's not worth making a criminal of yourself for. Your suggestion about obtaining the money 'by other means' is disgusting. H

Holy shit.

The 'other means' comment was ill-thought and it is something I would never actually do.

I'm just so frustrated as there are regularly boys and girls who are late/off when I'm working and they never seem to get this kind of action taken. DS is very timid in public and lets his rage build which he unleashes on me and his sisters. This is why he is being treated and I think this will be a setback in his recovery.

Offering to volunteer in DS place is no longer an option as a girl has taken over that round already. As I said, they are quite well paid and there is a long waiting list to get one.

Is your son always going to gave to take these medications and are they always going to affect him this way? If so gesturing going to have to find a wirk-aroubd. Its shit and unfortunate and while I can see the shop owners position to a point I still think he's an arsenal if poison has never called in sick in a year / these are extenuating circumstances but there's not much you can do about his decision. Your son is just going to have to find an alternative option - evening work?

That's awful - if this is the first time your ds has been off sick, then your boss is being a bit of a shit.

Psychiatric medications often make people drowsy for the first few weeks - it's not just not wanting to get up, it's being physically unable to wake up. This does get better over the course of a few weeks.

If you knew what effect his meds were having and how difficult he was finding it could younot of helped him out? Maybe worked with (both of your) boss and done, or at least helped out, on his route while he was adjusting?

'He called in sick 3 times in the space of 2 weeks'

..it's not about being fair/unfair to your DS, it's about running a business and keeping his customers happy.

It does sound a bit ott to sack him but when my DS had a paper round many yeas ago,he was ill twice so his dad and I stepped in and did the round for him.Poor kid though.Sounds like he could do without this extra blow.