AIBU - colleague leaving site for long periods of time

[Berowsky]

NC, because the lady in question is (probably) on MN…

Can someone please give me some advice?

I work shift patterns – 12 hours long - that include nights.

I was sitting in the control room with Security a few nights ago and made a joke that I would leave at 4am (instead of the usual 7am).

The security guard said that was fine and to leave the on-call mobile with him, so he could pick-up any emergencies.

I said that I was just joking and he replied that he thought it was OK for analyst staff to do this, as my colleague (let’s call her Lucy), does it fairly regularly, when she is on a nightshift.

I didn’t believe him and asked to see the timestamps for entry onto and leaving site.

He showed me and lo and behold, there have been regular 3 hour absences – all because we work alone and there is barely anyone here at night.

So, what should I do? Do I ‘grass’ Lucy up to the boss or just suck it up?

AIBU for being really annoyed at this? If she doesn’t do her work, then the dayshift have to pick it up, which has and does cause friction, as nights are a lot quieter.

Any advice would be helpful - thanks for reading :)

So is she meant to be doing regular work as an analyst as well as being on Call for emergencies through the night? Any chance she’s working from home for those 3 hours? If not, I’d mention it to the boss. I suppose there’s a chance they already know. Could it be some sort of agreed arrangement?

More details required I think. Are you allowed to leave for three hours during your shift? Or at all? Are you supposed to be on site? Leaving the on call mobile with the security guard suggests the person is not doing their job at all, if you're on call you should be contactable surely.

Is there a correlation between the absences and the day staff having to do a noticeable amount of extra work?

I guess, if you mention it to the boss, if it turns out there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for it, then it's ok, If there isn't, that person will rightly get in trouble.

Surely your manager has access to the time stamps too? So they’ll be able to see when she’s coming and going?

Conversation with manager: “i’ve been thinking about using our night shifts to take pressure off day staff. Is Lucy working from home when she leaves here at 4 am? How is I affecting efficiency? Does she get on better not also handling the on-call emergencies?”

Tread carefully if there is any possibility that Lucy heads to a tryst with your manager during her lost hours

Would the security guard get in trouble, though?

Is it your job to grass on co workers?

There may be a reason and the boss may know so maybe talk to Lucy first

I'd say it's everyone's job to "grass on coworkers" if it effects the team. One person taking the piss this way can have such a negative impact on a workplace.

It's easy for op to go "well lucy leaves a few hours early, so I will too", then someone else notices and they start leaving early or arriving late.

Talk to Lucy first

She’s having an affair under the cover of her night shift. Clever girl!

Snitching to your boss won’t go well. It’s a nasty thing to do, unless it directly impacts on you.

So, what should I do? Do I ‘grass’ Lucy up to the boss or just suck it up?

You don't like her do you?

What direct impact do Lucys actions have on you? how does she affect you life and well being?

I had a similar thing a few years ago when I worked nights.

In the end, I emailed the boss saying something like
“Just wanted to check about leaving site at night as security mentioned some staff do it and I wasn’t sure if the policy had changed”

In my case, I knew security well enough that they weren’t going to get it in the neck from my boss as they genuinely thought it was normal for staff to do that.

It clearly doesnt impact Op as she has had no idea it has been going on

Keep your mouth shut

Talk to the Lucy. It may be agreed, or with good reason. I'd be surprised if your manager didn't already know, if she's clocking in and out. If she's swinging the lead, she'll stop now you know about it.

How does a security guard deal with emergencies that an analyst is supposed to deal with? What would happen if an emergency came up (I presume these are rare?) and no analyst was around?

Is it your job to grass on co workers?

it's usually in your contract or code of conduct, so the answer is yes.

Splinterz-it’s clearly nothing to do with OP liking Lucy or not and even if it doesn’t affect the OP directly, she’s stated it affects the day staff. Or should she only care about herself?

I'd say it's everyone's job to "grass on coworkers" if it effects the team.

But if no-one noticed until the Security Guard blurted it out, is it "affecting the team" as such?

Maybe the role could be carried out by someone on call instead of in the office & the night shifts could be dropped....