To make an official complaint about colleague?

[Abouttoblow]

I'm really don't want to go to work tomorrow as I've had enough of selfish workmate.
I really love my work. I've been in this job for 10 years, find it fulfilling, great terms and conditions but if things carry on I will go mad.
Colleague had twins 5 years ago and returned to work 2 days a week. Since she had her DC she seems to think that they take priority over her job - even when she is at work. Her DM and SIL take care of them so I would assume they are reliable and trustworthy but she rings them every half hour to check on things. Every half hour WITHOUT FAIL. She will even excuse herself from meetings.
My main issue though is that every appointment she has, doctor, dentist etc she arranges on the days she is at work. We have flexible working to accommodate for this, more so for full time staff who work every day, so we take shorter breaks or start early/finish late to make up the time but she doesn't bother. She just goes off for an hour or so at a time and that's it. This has been going on for years and I've spoken to my boss but nothing is ever addressed with her.
Anyway, her DC start school soon and she came in last week with a list of things she just MUST attend at school - prize givings, parents in-school days, assemblies and I know if they're on either of her 2 working days she will just go.
She won't have holiday leave to cover this as she is off for most of the summer and I'm sure she will want half term etc now too.
I've just had enough and it makes me so angry that she thinks this is acceptable.
AIBU to make an official complaint to Personnel?

One small point - she may well schedule appointments for work days as it's the only time someone is looking after the twins (I have twins, really need to see a dentist but have no family around to take care of them so haven't been yet). And I think it's great that she wants to attend all their school events. She should make the time up though - it shouldn't be an issue if you have flexitime, the issue is her not making the time up. Surely someone is having to pick up her slack, otherwise she's employed for no reason?

@slimthistime

I'm no expert and thankfully have never had to take someone down the capability route for health disability reasons. I had one staff member who we were performance managing with view to terminate contract if performance did not improve. He then disclosed mental health problems and we made reasonable adjustments with the expectation that doing this would allow him to fulfil his role. Thankfully these made all the difference, his performance improved no end. Reasonable adjustments I think is open to interpretation and whats reasonable in one work environment/job role may not be in another. My understanding is that you must still be able to fulfil the key aspects of your job role.

The reasonable adjustments we made for the staff member above were simple things like:
Permission to go to a quiter working area if necessary.
Permission to take longer to complete tasks than usual/reduction in workload
Permission to take time out of work for councelling etc
These simple things were enough to make all the difference.

When I have been unwell I have had much bigger adjustments made on a temporary basis both to try and avoid me going off sick and as a phased return (which some people may feel are unfair, but my boss has said that she would rather have me at work in some capacity than off sick):

Temporary reduction in hours (on full pay)
Temporary removal from compulsory rotas that cover unsocial hours
Temporary removal from public facing duties
Temporary reduction in teaching/training duties
Permission to walk out of work without notice if I need to.
Permission to take work to a quieter area if I need to.

I have had questions from some newer staff about these adjustments and just explain that I've been very unwell and am still recovering. Established staff understand that the same support will be offered to them if they need it.

Pink, thanks for the information, that's good to know.

OP I hope something gets sorted.

Tammy I realise that arranging appointments when you know DCs are looked after is obviously easier. Genuinely, I have said this from the beginning. No one has an issue with that at all. But this is not the problem. There have been loads of incidents that I won't go into as they are very specific but will give a general example.
Me: Dentist appointment. Will make it for 9.00, get into work at 10.00 and therefore flexi on at 10.00. That means I have an hour to make up.
Her: Dentist appointment. Will make it for 9.00, get into work at 10.00 (with bags from M&S so she has also been shopping) and will flexi on at 9.00 (manually adjusted. If boss isn't there no one can check). That means she has no time to make up.
I have also seen the above happen and she has flexied on at 8.30, therefore gained a half hour!
I see so many posters commenting about MH issues and accommodations being made but I cannot stress this strongly enough - that is not what this is about at all it is a total lack of work ethic and utter dishonesty.
And I've opened myself up again to the whole "not your business" comments but it is what it is.

Oh no wonder you're so annoyed
I don't know what goes on MN sometimes, I really don't.

Thank you Slim I really think posters believe I'm being unnecessarily nasty and entitled and that is not me at all. We work in the public sector and I just feel we have an obligation x

I put my kids above my job always and don't really give a stuff what colleagues think -'ve often just told them I'm going home to deal with X - if they want to sack/discipline me that's fine I don't need the job so don't care anyway and frankly after 30 years they would have a tough time of it - it's well paid and helping my pension though so I just attend.

Black After some of the responses on here I've lost the ability to identify sarcasm. Please tell me your post is sarcastic??

Can you clock her out when she 'forgets'? Actually put her card in the machne, I mean, so it is time stamped or whatever?

I think I'd end up in trouble if I did that Jux. It seems, from majority of opinions on here, that I'm in the wrong.

"one day when she had been gone for nearly an hour to take her husband his wedding ring (he'd gone to work without it)"

!!!?

Deserves it's own thread!

Op I feel for you. Ignore the posters who say don't get involved. Theres a whole contingent of middle Englanders who believe the best thing is to turn a blind eye. For an easy life.

Go talk to HR who may not even be aware of the situation. This puts it on their radar then they should put pressure on the mgr.

And call out the woman when she's been off so she knows you're noticing. She's shameless probably because she thinks no one notices.

Sweet mother this would slowly drive me nuts. I cannot believe people are not in your corner op. This lazy time wasting excuse of a woman is massively taking the piss and it would fucking enrage me.

I know how you feel OP. I used to work in the NHS and colleagues did this kind of thing all the time. It's incredibly stressful to see it happening while you're up to your eyes in work and just managing to cope.
Unfortunately, as a PP has said, if you complain you're basically criticizing management for not doing their job properly and they're unlikely to thank you for that.

He was reported to HR, by several members of staff who were fed up with him abusing flexi time. It definitely impacted on the morale of the department to see him go swanning out

^THIS. All. Day. Long!

That is what you should do OP. Get colleagues on your side who notice the piss-taking by this woman, and then all of you collectively make a formal complaint.

Other colleagues must harbour the same thoughts as you - especially those who are impacted by her swanning off and not working/making up the time.

Theft of time is theft - no matter how its dressed up. She needs to be held to account.

OP, I would just do what she is doing. Ignore the naysayers. Life is too short to worry. Just take off personal appointments during your working day same as she does. If you are asked about it just say you will make up the time. You won't get any great reward for being a good person, worrying about taxpayers money etc you just need to do what's best for you, as she does.

Your case will be much stronger if there are a few of you. Get a couple of others on side and make a collective complaint. Could you dress it up as a query - "HR, is it OK when someone does this (here are diary records) because we want the same" type thing; not quite as strong as an actual complaint so you can back track if it turns out there's good reason for it, or indications you're treading on dangerous ground (you shouldn't be).

Why is any of this any of your business if it's annoying then that's your issue! The boss doesn't seem to care and it's his business so just concentrate on your own work and ignore her. You actually sound a bit jealous of her kids or the time off or whatever. But wow you are putting an awful lot of effort into disliking her!

@rightnowimpissed

I find it very hard to believe you would be so accommodating if said person was doing the same in your workplace....doing nothing, swanning off AND getting paid while you graft all day.

Very likely that the manager is unaware of whats going on. If they knew, perhaps it would not be an issue.

Your remark also infers you know little of how flexi time works and why its a serious issue and classed as theft of time. Thats just my observation, not a criticism of you BTW.

@fancythatfenceedge. Well I'm sorry to burst your bubble but, the op isn't impacted work wise so I really don't see the issue, if the mangers aren't bothered why should op be she doesn't get any extra work because of her actions.

If all this extra time hasn't been agreed it will be noticed at some point and this person will face the consequences. But if it has been agreed then what's your problem. If you need extra time get it and stop gunning for someone else, potential getting them sacked and plunging them into all sorts of problems! Why would any decent person do that?

Of course I know how flexi time works its self explanatory, and like I said any theft of time is up to the managers, owners of the business to be concerned about not the people who are just getting on.

Also the op doesn't know if the girls contract has changed now she's back with less hours to flexi or something reduced salary, perhaps she is having money deducted for the extra time taken off.

If you go making complaints you run the risk of looking very stupid and petty if arrangements are in place.

I get your frustration. I work with someone like this (also public sector), and she is unbelievable with her excuses. Everyone knows she's taking the piss, and a couple of us did try raising the issue, but none of the managers have the guts to tackle her. It is demoralising, and it does have an impact. The rest of us who do work the hours we're paid for are starting to wonder why we bother, especially when she is senior and better paid. Since no one is doing anything about it I just roll my eyes at her latest excuses for having to go home early, keep my head down and get on with my own job. One thing though, she won't have any of her team's back if it comes to job cuts or redundancies in future. It's not about jealousy, that's ridiculous. Why would the OP, who is clearly a conscientious person, be jealous of a skiver? No one likes a pisstaker.

OP - I hope you have a bit more joy from your HR department. Keep us updated, I am following with great interest.

Again how do you know she's not having the time amounts deducted from her pay, therefore no theft?

If you need extra time get it and stop gunning for someone else, potential getting them sacked and plunging them into all sorts of problems! Why would any decent person do that?

If you aren't doing your job the only person to blame for getting sacked is the person responsible!!

Typical blame game

Typical stick your head in the sand and not question the ethics. Do you work for the police force by any chance?