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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this fair or are they taking the mick a bit?

153 replies

Melonrunner · 14/06/2016 07:27

This is about my husband's work. I'm not going to say exactly what he does as I don't want to put him or myself. The usual set up at work is as follows. He is office based and works in a team of around 8. They have three types of shifts, early, lates and days. On the early and late shift they are responsible for picking up cases as they come in and have to deal with them immediately. At the start of the shifts there are cases waiting to be taken. If they have spare time in those shifts they manage their other cases which are ongoing. Day shifts are for managing the other cases too.

In an ideal world you each have around 10 cases and if you have less than 10 your work load is significantly easier and less stressful. Usually my husband has 10-15.

Now, husband is working with 4 of his teammates who are fasting and who have changed their shifts slightly to make sure they are home during the hours they are allowed to eat and to make sure they are not overtired. As such all their hours fall between 8-8. They start early shift later than everyone else who miss they handing out of cases. They start late shift earlier than everyone else so the thinking was they take some of the cases then to make the case load fairer across the team. However they find other office space to their usual office when they first come in (another team is in that space) and don't move down when the official shift starts! The therefore have been taking no extra cases this week and only dealing with their long term ones.

So now my husbands cases are exceeding 15 and theirs are less than 10. Plus he is helping out one of his colleges as she has gone home 3 times in the last fortnight with migraine (unusual for her).

So my husband is coming home very stressed, doing work at home (unpaid) and it's impacting on our family time when usually all his work is completed in the office. My husband won't say anything as his manager has been great at authorising annual leave at short notice when our son has been ill, lets him swap shifts when their is a school play etc. But he always takes on his fair share of cases.

Are they taking the mick or do you think this is ok as its only for a month and maybe they will help out more afterwards?

OP posts:
Gazelda · 14/06/2016 08:07

If your DH is bringing work home with him, the. I'd say that his workload is currently unmanageable.
A word with him manager needn't be a complaint, merely a heads up that work is stacking up and a request for management to review the share of caseloads each employee is carrying.
I think that jokey hints is completely the wrong way to go, it's not professional and those who are fasting may be unaware of the number of cases your DH is handling and take his jokes as criticism of their religious practices.

Inertia · 14/06/2016 08:07

I don't think snippy jokes are the answer, that just comes across as PA. It would be better to talk to the line manager and suggest practical ways to deal with the issue.

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 14/06/2016 08:07

"Unless you just wanted to make some kind of point about people fasting for Ramadan of course"

And being giving special treatment for it Wink Nanna.

As you said, OP, your husband is also accommodated when your child is ill, so it's all a bit quid pro quo.

It sounds like the management are very good at diversity. Letting a dad have time off for a sick child, allowing different religions to observe their rites. Makes a pleasant change.

Optimist1 · 14/06/2016 08:09

Without making any comment about fasting colleagues, migraine lady and others he feels are shirking their duties he should tell his manager he has x cases to deal with at present and won't be able to take any more on until he's back to a more normal number.

Original poster
Melonrunner · 14/06/2016 08:09

Case loads are given out informally. Manager might say we have 6 cases today can someone take them and people will come forward and take one. So some people don't always get one.

I do think it's usual to post dilemmas on mumsnet. Especially with something like this as my husband wouldn't want to offend anyone or come across as selfish (as manger has helped him out when our son has been ill).

OP posts:
Trufflethewuffle · 14/06/2016 08:10

How does the case hand out happen? Surely the person handing out the cases at 7am is competent enough to take into account the staff starting an hour later and allocate work to them in their absence.

ilovesooty · 14/06/2016 08:10

mybum do you work? Are you aware of companies' obligations regarding equality and diversity?

nellynoodles · 14/06/2016 08:13

Please be careful how you approach this OP. I agree with you that they are taking the piss expecting your hubby to compensate for others religious beliefs. But the racist card is pulled willy nilly on people who aren't seen to be accepting and supportive of Islam and it's wrong - and infuriating because it's a religion not a race and Muslims come in every colour creed and nationality.

SouthWesterlyWinds · 14/06/2016 08:14

The problem he is management. This is a crap way of dividing out caseloads.

ilovesooty · 14/06/2016 08:15

It's a simple management and allocation issue that can be easily addressed if flagged up.

Accommodation of religious belief will be part of equality and diversity policy but management need to ensure that workload is fair and that business efficiency is maintained.

DeathStare · 14/06/2016 08:16

Case loads are given out informally. Manager might say we have 6 cases today can someone take them and people will come forward and take one. So some people don't always get one.

Then could your DH just say " Colleagues X and Y will be in in an hour. Maybe they might like that case"

Only1scoop · 14/06/2016 08:16

I think next case handout he should speak up and say he has a backlog at moment due to increased work load....

He sounds reasonable his manager sounds reasonable so I wouldn't make jokey style comments if I was him I'd just be honest.

It sounds unfair that they seem to be avoiding the new cases. Could some not be saved until they start at 8am?

LiveLifeWithPassion · 14/06/2016 08:18

If his colleagues are not doing their jobs properly then it needs to be discussed with management.
There's no 'ism' going on here.

There was no difference in work quality from my fasting colleagues when I worked in the City, and if there had been then it would definitely have been flagged up.

Gazelda · 14/06/2016 08:18

If cases are given out to people who offer to take them, then why on earth is your DH offering to take them? Confused

From the way I'm reading your posts, absolutely no-one is taking the mick. Your DH is simply taking on too many cases.

The Ramadan element is almost irrelevant. It would be the same situation if there was a case of D&V working its way through the office, leaving 3 team members off sick.

As I've said previously, it's your DH's responsibility to alert his manager that his caseload has grown to the point that he's feeling the need to take some home with him.

SparklesandBangs · 14/06/2016 08:18

It's a management problem as has already been stated.
Having a family friendly and an inclusive to all policy is great but the managers or shift leaders need to do their jobs. A good manager will know their team(s) and the workload and distribute new tasks/cases as appropriate. If you DH needs to make a point it is that the manager is not doing their job, not that the fasting employees are shirking.

VioletBam · 14/06/2016 08:20

They might want to "make sure they're home" during the times they can eat but that's not practical. The best solution would be for management to allow them time for a meal during the shifts they're not there for so they CAN be there.

Twinkie1 · 14/06/2016 08:21

He just needs to be an adult and address the imbalance in a professional manner. No hints, no jokes.

LiveLifeWithPassion · 14/06/2016 08:22

Also, your husband needs to man up. You can't just dwell on issues then start being resentful and let it affect your life just because of fear of offending someone or seem selfish.
He just needs to act professionally.

NapQueen · 14/06/2016 08:22

I've no idea why they've changed their shifts. I work with colleagues on Ramadan and they have their meal break at 9.45pm or there abouts. The only concession is that they take around 1 hour instead of 30 mins as obviously they've not had tea breaks.

They do have short prayer breaks, but that isn't counted.

OliviaStabler · 14/06/2016 08:24

They are taking the mick. I appreciate they have to change shifts to fast but they should pick up the extra work as agreed. Your DH needs a quiet word with the manager.

123itsme · 14/06/2016 08:25

Really ? Which 'daily fail' scribbler are you ? Trying to get mumsnetters to have a dig at people fasting now ?! This is ridiculous ... If this truly is genuine then my apologies to OP - but really ?! I mean come on !!! Wake up people !!!

eddielizzard · 14/06/2016 08:31

your dh should refuse to take new cases as he already has 15. he can do it nicely 'so sorry, snowed under with the 15 i already have!' and leave them to it.

no need to have a go at anyone else.

Ledeluge · 14/06/2016 08:55

Are you Katie Hopkins?

Hoppinggreen · 14/06/2016 09:11

My DH manages a team of 8 and about half are fasting. They are exactly doing their best work and one even fell asleep at his desk yesterday but DH is picking up the slack as its only for one month and he says he feels sorry for them and respects their self discipline.
In fact he is doing a partial fast alongside them to show support and to try and lose a bit of weight!

MiscellaneousAssortment · 14/06/2016 09:22

'The racist card is pulled willy nilly'

Good lord. Head in hands...