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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make an official complaint about colleague?

792 replies

Abouttoblow · 03/09/2017 15:12

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?

OP posts:
FarceFace · 09/10/2017 18:47

am I the only one that feels a bit sorry for the gormless-ness of it? She is so dim she didn't even realise she was pulling a fast one, so seems to have copped to everything because of attempt to go to 3 days a week to get her personal appts paid for! If she'd had a bit more game like most chancers she'd likely not have paid this price.

Mind you, it seems fair, she's still got her job...

notapizzaeater · 09/10/2017 18:53

She’s bloody lucky 😀

MegCleary · 09/10/2017 19:02

My my what a come uppance

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 09/10/2017 19:09

Oh my word. Thanks for updating op!

My arse she did it all willingly! I bet she's putting on a front that's she's 'doing them a favour'. No one loses five days of leave (that's a hell of a lot when you're part time) willingly

God I hope she doesn't get gastroenteritis next week...like my cheeky fucker co worker. Hopefully your work will have things in place. At least they appear alert to her now.

Have a Gin or Brew op. Whatever's your fancy. You bloody deserve it!

FortunatelyUnfortunately · 09/10/2017 19:12

I don't get this. They obviously have gone through all her stuff and worked out the extent of her slackness, yet they haven't fired her for gross misconduct?

As others have said, she will have a lot of sick leave going forward and will be a nightmare to manage out even if you have a robust sickness absence policy. I loved my HR job but these kind of cases were always a nightmare. Your boss missed a golden opportunity.

MsPassepartout · 09/10/2017 19:14

She's bloody lucky to have got off so lightly if she's been abusing the flexi time system as much as you thought she was.

Would she be able to take unpaid leave at all if she needed extra time off next year, or is that sort of thing not an option where you work?

Ambonsai · 09/10/2017 19:14

How's she playing it?
Is she feeling hard done by? Did she tell you all this or the bosses tell you?

Cagliostro · 09/10/2017 19:17

Bloody hell 😂😂

I am amazed she has been so lucky really, but at least there are clear consequences even if not as harsh as she (IMHO) deserves

FortunatelyUnfortunately · 09/10/2017 19:18

Also total BS that she called that meeting. If she called the meeting she would not have said that thing about being allowed to have representation. They called it, they said that she could have someone there and she refused because she wants to do exactly what she has done (i.e. put her spin on it without anyone else outside of the meeting knowing the truth). I cannot envisage how a meeting that she allegedly called could end up in her getting sanctioned to that extent.

I bet she is on line looking up her sick pay / parental leave allowance right now.

CodLiverOil556 · 09/10/2017 19:19

Just goes to show if you give someone enough rope then they’ll hang theirselves. I think she knew exactly what she was doing and she’s got busted. She’s lucky to have kept her job IMO

FortunatelyUnfortunately · 09/10/2017 19:19

Sorry OP - for avoidance of doubt, I'm saying that she is bullshitting. Not you.

Original poster
Abouttoblow · 09/10/2017 19:25

I'm under no illusion that she's OK with all this.

I really believe she knew how much they would have found out at the audit and took the sanctions to avoid it. Again, I'm not sure if it did go ahead or not.

I don't think any of you are wrong about sickness. Time will tell.

OP posts:
ShiftyMcGifty · 09/10/2017 19:26

"Just goes to show if you give someone enough rope then they’ll hang theirselves."

Except it doesn't, because she should have been fired for gross misconduct and all that's happened is she lost flexitime. It really shows how much shite you can get away with and still retain your job. Pretty horrid working environment, really.

ScissorBow · 09/10/2017 19:27

We had a similar FTCF at my old public sector job. She signed into offices then pissed off viewing houses or catching up with friends/family. Even when it was completely and utterly proven with log on/not log on evidence and phone calls saying 'is FTCF in a meeting with you? No? Hm her diary says she is' all that happened was a clamp down on her not working from anywhere other than the same office as her line manager. She then went on exactly 6 months sick Hmm and after about 6 months back she got a new job within the organisation. I then saw her pulling the wool over her new boss's eyes but just had to leave. Couldn't bear it any more.

LJLsmum · 09/10/2017 19:39

Bloody hell, I think she got away very lightly with it. I wonder if she will realise her card is marked and actually work like she is supposed to, or whether she will start down the sickness leave route. I'm glad you got to see her get found out without having to do the dirty work yourself. She would seriously piss me off

Plainlycrackers · 09/10/2017 20:02

Wow just wow! 🚗🚗🚗 what a read!! 🚗🚗🚗 ( blatant place mark? Me? Noooo! Wink )

RedForFilth · 09/10/2017 20:06

Ohh what a thread! I would have been probably more pissed off than you OP! It's people like her who end up getting privileges such as flexi taken away from everyone due to it being abused. I'd say she should count herself lucky for getting off so lightly! I bet everyone who works there is pleased there will be no more fuckery from her.

PS, I bet all the people having digs at you at the beginning of the thread feel like right twats now Grin

Original poster
Abouttoblow · 09/10/2017 20:37

I will obviously come back if there are any further updates.

Thanks to all of you who were supportive. You've kept me sane Flowers

I'll kinda miss you all.

Just off to open (and finish) a bottle of wine..........

I can always flexi on later in the morning Wink

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 09/10/2017 21:29

Brilliant result.
She won’t last long op

MaggieFS · 09/10/2017 22:33

I'm still keeping this bookmarked! Let us know how it goes!

Jux · 09/10/2017 22:54

Hmmm,mwell, I'm glad she's being reigned in and can't abuse the system any more. As others say, she'll have a lot of sick leave now.

Congrats on getting it sorted so sensibly.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 09/10/2017 23:53

5 days leave for someone who works 2 days a week is massive! It is the equivalent of 12.5 days for someone who works full time.

Is it even legal to leave her with so little holiday?!?

It has just occurred to me - if her kids have just started school then she presumably now has 3 days a week where she has no kids and can run her errands to her hearts content.

RiotAndAlarum · 10/10/2017 06:47

Gah. She should have been fired for that level of skiving. The managers are doing morale no favours by allowing her to spin the outcome so beneficially.

Perhaps she's even been fired and is being forced to work her notice as payback, and she will "resign" when her notice is up! Hmm Management's allowing her far too much leeway to save face and make them look ridiculous!

TittyGolightly · 10/10/2017 06:55

Perhaps she's even been fired and is being forced to work her notice as payback, and she will "resign" when her notice is up!

Not possible.

OnionKnight · 10/10/2017 07:26

She should have been sacked, I'm stunned that she wasn't TBH.

What the hell is the manager playing at?