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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ignore MIL's attempt at changing terms after signing them off

64 replies

JustCallMeBroken · 27/05/2015 21:06

Her 15yo son applied for a work experience placement where I work.
He's been placed in my department under my direct supervision. Someone from the school and from their externally contracted company came out to check the place over, insurance etc, and handed me a list of dos and don'ts, along with the terms of the placement.
5 days, 9-5, normal work lunch breaks, and he's supposed to work (within the guidelines on their other list).
MIL was sent the same list and both her and BIL had to sign it to say they agreed, as well as me signing it.

This week she came over with the list and asked me to let him start at 10 and finish at 4, "because he's only a child" and "he's not used to working".
She also said that he "would be happy if I let him sit at a computer all day".

WIBU to ignore all of this and put him to work as I would any other apprentice in their first week?

OP posts:
TheHumourlessHarpy · 27/05/2015 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mousmous · 27/05/2015 21:09

yanbu

nilbyname · 27/05/2015 21:09

Ignore your mil- that is bonkers!

Whatabout · 27/05/2015 21:09

Definitely ignite her, she's being totally precious.

2tired2bewitty · 27/05/2015 21:11

Do you work for/with your MIL?

momtothree · 27/05/2015 21:11

Mmm igniting MIL is ileagle i think.

FryOneFatManic · 27/05/2015 21:11

The point of a work experience placement is to exerience real life work as far as possible, so agree that you should ignore MIL's attempts to change it.

AlternativeTentacles · 27/05/2015 21:13

'If you don't like the terms, you need to speak to the school as changes have to go through the terms of the placement. To be honest - if he isn't doing 9-5 work experience there isn't much point in coming to ours to do it so perhaps he needs to find somewhere else to go?'

tippytappywriter · 27/05/2015 21:14

Just seen he is 15. Ignore her.

Original poster
JustCallMeBroken · 27/05/2015 21:16

No, I don't work with her or for her.

It is pointless for him to only do 10-4, lots of things happen in the first and last hour every day. If I was a real employer, she would never dare to try this.

OP posts:
FlyingPirate · 27/05/2015 21:16

Whatabout I agree she's being precious but I think igniting her is a bit extreme! Shock Wink

Corygal · 27/05/2015 21:20

Ignore MIL. Good luck with the son, her Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Original poster
JustCallMeBroken · 27/05/2015 21:25

Sometimes I would quite like to ignite her.

OP posts:
Rozalia · 27/05/2015 21:27

Is igniting MILs a Thing? Damn, wish I'd known that before I split up with STBXH.

Divorce not finalised yet though, so she is still my MIL. .

Lottiedoubtie · 27/05/2015 21:28

Ignore her! Tell her the school are sending out teachers to check up on him (they'll conveniently turn up on the last hour of the last day, or forget natch) and you wouldn't want him to get into trouble so won't be making changes.

He doesn't roll up to school at 10am presumably - so 9 shouldn't pose a challenge at all.

BIWI · 27/05/2015 21:29

Thing is, you are a real employer, and you have signed an agreement, as has your MIL and BIL! So he is 'contracted' to work those hours.

Ignore her.

Or ignite her. Grin

mygrandchildrenrock · 27/05/2015 21:30

We often have work experience students who are also 15. We are not allowed to have any if they are related to anyone at work. This is why!

PicaK · 27/05/2015 21:31

Step away from the matches people!
Work experience teaches them about work. Tricky one - contact school to say that you've been requested to have 10-4pm. Say you just wanted to check they were ok with that.... Bright teacher should pick it up. Then you say "oh dear"

Nanny0gg · 27/05/2015 21:37

What's it got to do with MiL and BiL if you don't work together?

Confused
mineofuselessinformation · 27/05/2015 21:37

Reply 'Sorry, but I can't change the terms as it's standard for work experience here. If you need to change it, you should contact the school'.

Original poster
JustCallMeBroken · 27/05/2015 21:38

BIWI you are right. I wouldn't let any of my team wriggle out like this, but I guess she thinks she can get me to let him off because I'm married to her eldest.

mygrandchildren the first thing the woman from the organising company asked me was whether he was a relation. She didn't seem to have an issue with it, not sure whether that is because I had nothing to do with his application, he did that himself, or whether he is not a blood relation.

Knowing him, he didn't ask her to talk to me. he tends to only communicate in grunts and shrugs

OP posts:
Original poster
JustCallMeBroken · 27/05/2015 21:39

pica I like that idea!

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 27/05/2015 21:39

10 till 4 sounds much better to me. I take work exp students and I would be happy to change to those hours if a parent asked.

Koalafications · 27/05/2015 21:43

Why do BIL and MIL have to sign paperwork if they don't work with you? Confused

FryOneFatManic · 27/05/2015 21:44

Summerhouse OP said "It is pointless for him to only do 10-4, lots of things happen in the first and last hour every day."

So changing his hours actually would lead to him not getting the experience he's signed up for.