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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell my manager about new girls lateness

124 replies

NervousPotato · 13/09/2018 10:18

I am due to go on mat leave. My cover started recently, she is a student (taking a year out of uni) drives her own car (so not relying on public transport) really nice girl who I get on with well blahblahblah

However, she has been late into the office 4 days in a row now. Now, I’m not usually one to care about lateness, I’m not a manager and I wouldn’t like being picked up on it, but 4 days in a row?? It’s been between 10-15 minutes late every morning…

AIBU to let my manager know? Manager is based in another office so isn’t here to notice… only I do…

She keeps saying ‘sorry, can’t figure out the traffic and what time to leave my house!’ – she uses google maps to get here (which tells you how long its going to take you…) surely after being late just the once you would leave super early until you figure it out?

I don’t want to be a ‘snitch’ but I feel 4 times in a row is inexcusable ?

What would you do ???

OP posts:
WillowPeach · 13/09/2018 12:30

Honestly if I were you I’d just mind my own business. Nobody likes a snitch and deliberately getting your colleagues into trouble isn’t a nice move tbh (unless said colleague acts inappropriately). I’d leave her to it, they’ll figure it out eventually.

specialsubject · 13/09/2018 12:34

ok, so she is even worse than a millenial.

but hopefully she has grown out of the playground. Snitch, grass....glad I don't work with some on here.

it is all down to management, who will hopefully realise that piss-takers reduce morale. Although I wouldn't hold my breath.

Satsumaeater · 13/09/2018 12:35

I'm with the people who say nobody likes a snitch.

And Google maps isn't foolproof, in my experience it overestimates walking times and underestimates driving times.

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 13/09/2018 12:36

You’re leaving soon so I wouldn’t bother. If the managers are any good they’ll notice and address it in time.

NerdyBird · 13/09/2018 12:44

My second day in my current job I was really late. My tubeline had a problem and we were stuck so I couldn't even phone them. Happily, they were understanding and my manager said she'd been worried I didn't like it enough to stay!

I would just let her know, and then leave it. It's not up to you to manage her, and given that you don't want her to mess up your job while you are on mat leave if you help her now she may pay that back to you.

twoshedsjackson · 13/09/2018 12:46

If she's a nice girl, and you get on well, you're in a good position to give a pleasant, tactful "heads up" before she falls foul of management, making it clear that you're keen for her to do well and want to help, in the spirit of doing a well-organized handover. It's bound to catch up with her sooner or later (excuse the pun) if you don't.

Miladymilord · 13/09/2018 12:48

I employ people and this would be a no no.

I would be friendly about it at first but say from Monday you really must get up 20 minutes earlier!

Things like this irritate others who make an effort to get there on time.

OrcinusOrca · 13/09/2018 12:57

I don't think it's OK to be late but I don't think it's your place to get involved. For your own sake I would leave it, at the most speak to her informally. It's up to them to monitor her, and if she is like this generally they will soon find out.

Thatstheendofmytether · 13/09/2018 12:59

I would not be a snitch and I would get over myself, who cares your not her manager you don't pay her wages and she will eventually be caught. Ask yourself why you want to tell tales on this girl?

MrsStrowman · 13/09/2018 13:01

All of the millennial comments are ridiculous, that generation covers anyone born between 1981 and 1996. If you're looking down at 37 year olds as being little snowflakes who don't know what a work ethic is, you just come across as old and bitter. 34 year old millennial, capable of getting myself to work on time, no round of applause needed.

Aspenfrost · 13/09/2018 13:02

It’s the thin end of the wedge and should not be overlooked. If everyone was like her, how would it all end?

She is still in student mode and should get her act together - and if - for instance - she was a new teacher and she wandered in late four times in one week, how would that work? It wouldn’t is the answer.

EdisonLightBulb · 13/09/2018 13:09

I worked with a girl from an agency once like this. I was Team Leader temporarily as our manager left with little notice. She was covering me effectively.

Within a few days she was into the 10 minutes late, then it was having to leave for an appointment every day. Longer lunches etc.

She would also ask me to sign off her timesheets for the full 37 hours and "would make it back later" - she never did and I was naïve and trusting.

The day she said she was bringing a cat into the office for the morning so she could take it to the vet at lunchtime was the final straw and "it wont be any bother" locked up in a cat carrying basket for 4 hours

She was gone within an hour. We never did get the time back, but I grew a spine.

Thin end of the wedge is spot on ....

ILoveHumanity · 13/09/2018 13:13

Say something to her like :

“ you had a tough time coming here ?” As her questions on her road journey.

Offer her advice subtly and let her know what time you are up from her and when you leave your home..

Keep repeating everytime she is late until she finds it awkward to be late.

Colleagues are there to support not to compete/destroy.

I’m sure you don’t give a damn if she works through her lunch break or if she is fully focused while you are on your phone, or if she is leaving office late.

Punctuality is good, but so are all the other work ethics that you might be breaching yourself.

The nice thing to do would be to gently remind each other. Not to police each other.

If the manager asks your opinion , then that’s a different story. But you going and causing problems for the girl sounds to me like you might be feeling insecure about her replacing you. Sorry

ILoveHumanity · 13/09/2018 13:14

Ask her about road journey*

What time you are up from bed*

Deadbudgie · 13/09/2018 13:18

Maybe chat to her rather than running off telling tales - are you scared she will take your job?

Louba4 · 13/09/2018 13:18

I don't think OP is trying to 'gain' anything by considering telling her manager about this girl's poor punctuality. Punctuality is important in most office based jobs and if this is the girl's first job, she may not be aware of how so. I always turn up at least 10 minutes early for work and absolutely hate being late (also millennial, for the record @RedDwarves).

If I were in the situation I would explain to her myself first how important it is to turn up on time before going to the manager, but if this is something you have already done and she continues to be late, manager would definitely be next step!

Enjoy your Mat leave and good luck!

Mushroomsarehorrible · 13/09/2018 13:18

Don't be a grass Hmm

Just tell the girl. What have you got against being straight with her?

PlateOfBiscuits · 13/09/2018 13:19

’ok, so she is even worse than a millenial.’
Err... wtf @specialsubject ?
Why are you hating on a whole generation of people?

HopeGarden · 13/09/2018 13:23

I’d have a word with her and tell her that the management are very strict about timekeeping, and that she could get into trouble with them if they catch her being late.

She may be more used to workplaces where punctuality isn’t particularly important. I’ve worked at plenty of places where no one was really bothered about people being 15 minutes late as long as they made the time up later.

Gersemi · 13/09/2018 13:25

I should have added really that my manager and other people in our team (who are all based in another office) are pretty ‘corporate’ and so the repetitiveness of being late is definitely frowned upon.

Tell her this. It's fair enough to pass on a friendly warning that she's going to get in trouble unless she sorts it out.

LyndorCake · 13/09/2018 13:26

Speak to the new girl before the manager.
Also, just remember that traffic is different each day, at least it is round here. I know my commute takes longer on Mon-wed, less on Thurs and less on Friday. Took me ages to get in the swing of things which meant I was all over with my time keeping. Some days I would overshoot and be stupidly early and have to sit outside the office, others I'd be late. Now I'm in a rhythm.

howmanyusernames · 13/09/2018 13:27

Also, if she's been late 4 times and no-one (especially the person training her - you) has mentioned it being a problem, she probably doesn't realise.
I've worked for companies where you're expected to be in 15 mins before you're supposed to start, but I've also worked for companies where people turn up at the time they're supposed to start, and also where people roll in 5-10 mins after they're supposed to start. The late/on the dot people were all fine as it was the company ethos to allow this. All companies are different, and unless someone has told her what is expected she doesn't know.
I'm not saying she's right, I hate being late and hate my staff being late, but she could just be naive to a corporate working environment, and if no-one has told her it's an issue she won't know.

GnomeDePlume · 13/09/2018 13:33

I would give her a 'heads up' that lateness wont be tolerated and does get noticed.

Gromance02 · 13/09/2018 13:35

Does she make the time up later in the day? I don't buy the 'naivety' idea. She must have gone through school having to arrive at a certain time, etc so there really isn't any excuse.

cholka · 13/09/2018 13:42

Snitchy people make me doubt humanity. If her attitude is otherwise good, just mention that if she's continually late then she'll get in trouble. Don't go sneaking around dobbing her in behind her back, that's revolting.
If you think she's generally lazy and not committed then mention to your manager to keep an eye out for it.
Generally, who gives a shit? She's making money for your employer, not you. Keep your nose out of it.