Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To think work are being a bit unreasonable to DD??

46 replies

Hape · 24/09/2016 22:18

DD is only 16 and works in a small Morrisons local.

She recently fracture one of her foot bones and has been put in a cast. She informed work, where they told her she was allowed 7 days off. She took the 7 days and then they said they will find stuff for her to do.

She went in for her shift and they said they would put her on the till. She found that really hard as she was constantly standing on one foot for 6 hours... She had to call over someone if someone asked her to go and find something, to which she got a massive moan at from her boss about how she needs to go and look for it, as she's still able to get around (but on crutches)...

She is getting really bad aches in the top of her other leg as she was standing on it for so long...

I don't really know her rights with this, I have never worked in a supermarket.

Can anyone help?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 24/09/2016 22:20

Don't they have chairs at the tills?

OlennasWimple · 24/09/2016 22:20

if she can't complete the requirements of the job, and she's not worked there very long, I think she could be dismissed...

Bearfrills · 24/09/2016 22:21

Can she get a fit note from the GP saying what work she is/isn't fit to do? It sounds like they're being complete arses to her.

usual · 24/09/2016 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Hape · 24/09/2016 22:23

No, at her one (it's a local) they don't seem to have them! They stand up behind a small till. It's a bit odd really.

Well, she has only been there 9 weeks... I didn't think she could be sacked over it?

Yeah, maybe a GP will be able to help with RE to a note.

OP posts:

queenofthepirates · 24/09/2016 22:23

It sounds as though she needs to talk to her GP about what she should and shouldn't be doing. My guess would be standing on one leg for an extended period would not be a good idea. If her manager is being an arse, she needs something to wave in front of him. Alternatively if the job is not suitable for her level of capacity with a cast, she should be at home.

ChocolateButton15 · 24/09/2016 22:23

She could get signed off work by a doctor or ask for a chair.

At 16 does she really need the job? Might be better for her to focus on getting better.

Wildernesswandering · 24/09/2016 22:26

Poor thing! She should go to her GP and be signed off work until she can weight bear properly. She clearly shouldn't be back at work just yet, unless they can find her a role which she can carry out properly.

Sleepybunny · 24/09/2016 22:28

OMG common sense, she can't stand on one leg, It's not practical. Does she need this job? She needs to tell her boss, this is causing her pain and she needs to know you have her back if her boss is an arse about it. Life lesson here for DD. It might not be pleasant, but she needs to learn to speak up for herself and be confident in her decisions.

Original poster

Hape · 24/09/2016 22:30

She needs the job, yes.

Chairs are not allowed, it's one where they have spirits and cigarettes behind the counter so it's health and safety or something.

OP posts:

alfagirl73 · 24/09/2016 22:33

They are required by law to make reasonable adjustments for her ie. provide her with a chair. Making her stand on one leg for 6 hours is completely unreasonable and is a breach of duty by the employer as they have a responsibility to their employees in relation to their Health and Safety and wellbeing at work.

A company such as Morrisons should know better.

Mozfan1 · 24/09/2016 22:33

Ridiculous, and to be so harsh on a 16 year old?! Fuckers. They haven't made allowances of 'found something she can do', they've just made her do what she normally does which is clearly innapropriate given her condition. I would see gp for a note saying she can't stand for long periods. I cannot believe this!

Mozfan1 · 24/09/2016 22:34

or not of, sorry.

Sistedtwister · 24/09/2016 22:37

She needs to be signed off by the gp. Yes they could dismiss for unacceptable levels of absence, unfortunately she has very few rights until she has been there 2 years. What does her contract / the probationary policy / short service policy say? It should be in her employee handbook. Morrison's HR are notoriously bad

SquawkFish · 24/09/2016 22:37

I think they need to make "reasonable adjustments" for her otherwise it could be seen as discriminatory. Did the hospital tell her any specifics like keeping her leg raised to aid healing?

I don't know much about fractures in feet but it sounds painful and as though standing on it for long periods is not a good idea.

madein1995 · 24/09/2016 22:39

I agree that the company is required by law to make allowances for her and give her duties she can do, get her a chair etc. Completely out of order for them to this. Second getting a doctors note. Can she go above her bosses head and speak to another manager? She shouldn't have to put up with it. There could be grounds for compaint against her manager for the complete lack of adjustments that have been made.

PansyGiraffe · 24/09/2016 22:43

Unless she is going to have a broken foot for the next 12 months she is not going to be disabled for discrimination purposes and reasonable adjustments duty doesn't apply. She needs to go to doctor for a fit note saying she can't do standing behind the till, but what she can do. If they don't have that work for her she won't be able to work and will be on sick leave getting whatever she is entitled to. As said above, absolutely they can fire her for incapability, bit hopefully it won't come to that.

imwithspud · 24/09/2016 22:44

That's disgraceful, I doubt her superiors would do that kind of work for 6 hours without a chair, so why should she? Standing on one leg for 6 hours is bonkers.

Going to the GP is a good shout, but as a pp mentioned she doesn't really have any/many rights until she's been employed by them for 2 years, so they could sack her for poor attendance. It's a shitty law that imo allows employers to take the mick like this then sack employees when they try and fight for what's fair.

Your poor daughter, do let her know that not all employers are like this, and that maybe she could start searching for alternative work if she wants to.

imwithspud · 24/09/2016 22:44

*for 6 hours with a broken foot without a chair

mouldycheesefan · 24/09/2016 22:56

She can get signed off by GP.
Yes they can sack her unfortunately as she hasn't attended work for most of her service and is still in her probation period. Where I work We would terminate her on being unsuitable during probation period but would tell her to get back in touch when fully recovered and we would take her back on, if we were impressed with her for the few days she was there.
Hope she gets better soon, she won't get better though by standing on it for hours behind a till!

mouldycheesefan · 24/09/2016 22:58

You only need to make reasonable adjustments for people with a disability. And those adjustments do need to be reasonable. If there are not jobs she can do sitting down then obviously they can't make that adjustment so it wouldn't be reasonable. But her injury at this point wouldn't be covered by disability discrimation anyway.

WorraLiberty · 24/09/2016 22:59

That's ridiculous OP, they're treating her like shit.

And what happens when someone wants to buy cigarettes and alcohol? Does she have to keep calling an adult over to sell them?

MrsJayy · 24/09/2016 23:00

She needs to be either signed off or moved to a sitting till that is ridiculous your poor daughter

Barabajagal · 24/09/2016 23:01

Can she sell spirits and cigarettes at 16?

AgentProvocateur · 24/09/2016 23:01

They don't need to make reasonable adjustment for a broken foot, and they can get rid of her. She needs to speak to her supervisor and her doctor and work out what she can/can't do. It could be that if her foot is better in 6 weeks, they'll give her hours leading up to Christmas.

Flip

1 2