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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To phone in sick for a leaky radiator?

33 replies

Sweetlikechocolate300 · 30/10/2017 08:36

My employee has just done this....

Are they BU?

They've been with me for 1 month. They've already had time off for an illness, plus associated doc appointments, and also a funeral.

This morning I was told (not asked) they would be staying home to wait for repair man. No apology.

How bad can it be that they need the day off?

Would you think they aren't really bothered about keeping the job?

OP posts:
Lethaldrizzle · 30/10/2017 08:38

They sound like they are taking the piss

NapQueen · 30/10/2017 08:38

Well if they have "rung in sick" when they arent sick surely that contravenes the sickness policy?

If they are able to take a days unpaid leave then they should have asked for that. Demanding is not on!

ghostyslovesheets · 30/10/2017 08:39

It's not good no - but neither is posting about an employee on a public forum - just deal with the employee according to your policy on leave

littleblackno · 30/10/2017 08:39

Are they in a probation period? I would be discussing thier attendance with them during any probation meetings- and today shpuld be annual leave not sick- unless you need to be looking at sickness capabilities too.

ferrier · 30/10/2017 08:40

I phoned in once for a similar problem with water pouring out over the floor. I got a verbal warning for it. Not sure what else I was supposed to do so I have some sympathy with your employee.

stonecircle · 30/10/2017 08:41

So they haven’t phoned in sick - they’ve told you why they can’t come in?

Their other reasons all seem legitimate but only you can tell how serious they are about their job. There’s a world of difference between giving you those reasons in a nonchalant, entitled manner or giving them in a ‘I’m so sorry, I realise this looks bad during my first month, I’m not normally like this, can I stay late a few times to make a bit of the time up’ sort of way.

FittonTower · 30/10/2017 08:47

I've had to call in at the last minute for a house emergency before. In my case it was branch through window rather than a leak but sometimes you can't safely leave your house unattended for 8 hours while you pop to work. I luckily have a good employer who is very flexible though.
If they are saying they are 'sick' they're taking the piss, if they've said they can't come in because of an emergency then that does happen to everyone from time to time.

LIZS · 30/10/2017 08:48

They're not sick! Sounds like a poor absence record for such a short period. What is your absence policy? Will they come in once it is done?

A leaky radiator can normally be turned off/drained into a container until a convenient time for a fix can be arranged. It is not an emergency.

RB68 · 30/10/2017 08:53

LIZS that is provisional on them knowing how to do that to be fair not everyone does or has had the privilege of learning from family members.

I would say when they return you need to have a conversation abut expectations. At least its a leaky radiator not a flooded house and sorting one will prevent the other. Maybe ask them to make time up?? But do make it clear re probabtion and what is looked at attendance being one - not sure they can help funerals and illness though to be fair

BarbaraofSevillle · 30/10/2017 08:55

Unless they have elderly or other vulnerable people in the house, this is not an emergency. They should turn the radiator or heating off, come to work and then take agreed leave or work at home when they have a plumber appointment.

The funeral and genuine sickness can't be helped, but it does sound like they might need to rethink their priorities and put work a little higher up the list.

AnUtterIdiot · 30/10/2017 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gamerchick · 30/10/2017 08:59

Probation? Haul them in for a meeting about expectations.

Some people take the piss.

LIZS · 30/10/2017 09:01

How far from work do they live? Unless they have a first appointment could they come in and await a call when plumber is on the way? A jay cloth and container will usually contain the problem for a few hours.

BulletFox · 30/10/2017 09:04

It's definitely not sick leave. If the workload is covered I would expect them to come in asap as soon as it was fixed and take it as absence leave

Doilooklikeatourist · 30/10/2017 09:08

They aren’t interested in keeping the job IMHO
Get rid and employ someone else

ShotsFired · 30/10/2017 09:10

@RB68 LIZS that is provisional on them knowing how to do that to be fair not everyone does or has had the privilege of learning from family members.

Is that what Google/YouTube is for though? That would be most people's first port of call if they don't have someone they can call to ask. Get it shut off first, then deal with the bigger issue of fixing it. It's turning off a leaky radiator, not brain surgery...

(Apart from it being one of the basic rules of responsible home owning/managing - know where your stopcocks are etc)

TheSnowFairy · 30/10/2017 09:10

If you use the Bradford Factor for sickness you would be letting them go right about...

now.

xhannahx · 30/10/2017 09:12

Would not be impressed at all if one of our employees did this.

Need a firm disciplinary meeting outlining appropriate uses of "sick leave", and a warning for future conduct.

Next time they would be out.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/10/2017 09:17

That they are not bothered is a fair assumption.

Allthewaves · 30/10/2017 09:20

So that's a days unpaid leave then or use annual leave

MrsSchadenfreude · 30/10/2017 09:22

This should be annual leave or unpaid leave.

maddiemookins16mum · 30/10/2017 09:23

One of ours has a Bradford score of over 300, still here.

HouseholdWords · 30/10/2017 09:28

Not sick; no sick leave. It's a day of LWOP (leave without pay). And a questioning of progress/working attitudes.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/10/2017 09:28

How old are they? It may be an assumption that they ‘phone in sick’. Perhaps they are unaware this should be taken as unpaid leave. Anyway they’ll be in for a grilling tomorrow, I imagine.

redmarkone · 30/10/2017 09:30

telling you its sick leave and getting paid for a sick day? whaaaaat?!
They should have been carefully asking for a day of unpaid leave and have some self awareness of how much they've been off lately.

Are they on a permanent contract or are they a temp/ agency worker? Do they not rely on the job for a secure income? That's a lot of days off for only being in the job once month.

Also, you tube doesnt always offer the exact help you need, a friend of mine burst two radiators in their house trying to DIY. You should only DIY if you're competent.