AIBU to start thinking we hired the wrong person?

[honeyroar]

More of a WWYD really.

We hired someone to do a little job, one day a week, freelance animal carer. They started in early November. We knew they had a couple of weeks where they had another booking and wouldn't be able to come, which was fine. Then they worked three weeks and got injured (elsewhere, nothing to do with us), told us they'd be off two or three weeks, which fell in a time when we could cover it. But I've just asked whether they're able to work this week and they're still injured, and will be off at least another fortnight. I feel very sorry they're injured, but out of the nine weeks they've been working for us they've been off six. WWYD?

I'd probably just find someone else. I'm sure they expect that too. You can't wait forever and you've been patient.

Do they appear to be a good worker when they're there? Sometimes accidents just happen at unfortunate times. I hired a lovely, qualified out her ears dog walker who was absolutely adored by my dog. After the first walk of a very large booking that was to run over a month, I received a phone call to say she'd been hit by a car when she was cycling away from our house. The poor sod was laid up for months. However, we've used her many times since and she's 100% reliable and will go out of her way to help in emergencies. (I appreciate this is a bit different) Tricky situation for you as an employer OP.

If you need an animal carer, hire another person, maybe an agency or someone who says they can / will try to arrange cover if they are unavailable.

Yes they do seem a good worker while they've been here, and a nice person. That's why I feel bad! We managed to get the person that used to work for us to fill in for a couple of weeks over Xmas as they're home from college. We can cover it ourselves, it was just to have a rest one day a week.

I don't really know of any agencies to cover this, and I don't want to start any of the others that applied when I can't say how long for, it doesn't seem fair.

Perhaps I should give it another two or three weeks and go from there?

I think another two or three weeks is extremely fair of you if they're a good worker and good person. After that, I think they'd understand why you'd have to hire something else. Hope all goes well.

I remember starting my first job at 19, I was in for 2 weeks, and then off for over 3 weeks with awful tonsillitis including my first severe allergic reaction to penicillin. After that I (luckily) wasn't off sick for another 8 years!!!!

She might just be unfortunate, does it sound like the time off is appropriate for injury she has? (i.e. if its a broken leg it wouldn't be unexpected she would be off for 6 weeks!)

Can you explain a little more how you “hired” them? Is this more like having a cleaner - I.e. they’re paid job by job, you could just stop using them, or is this a proper employed person, set hours, notice period, sick pay even?

If you can, you very much need to gently explain what you’ve told us really - you need the help, and you don’t want to mess around another person getting them to just fill in.

If they’re a nice person as you say, then hopefully they’ll empathise!

Yes it's along the lines of a cleaner.

If they’re freelance can’t you just get another freelancer?