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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked at boss telling me off for being late back

469 replies

onlyafewdaystogo · 23/01/2019 11:10

I am retiring from work next Wed, after many years working for this company. Last year our dept got a new Manager who's a bit of a stickler.

Anyhow, due to upcoming retirement several groups of colleagues have been taking me out for lunch in the last few days. Yesterday I went to an Italian restaurant with some people from another Dept that I have a lot of dealings with.

We had a lovely relaxing lunch and I got back to work at 3 o'clock instead of 2.30. My boss knew this group were taking me out. He called me into his office about an hour later and told me off for being late back from lunch and said it's the second time it's happened in recent days and I'd have to watch my timekeeping.

AIBU to be Shock. It's always been the norm when someone is retiring that they spend the last week or so winding down and not really being bound by the normal time bands etc.

My colleagues were really surprised and annoyed when they heard.

OP posts:
Queenofselfdoubt · 23/01/2019 11:13

Honestly I would pretend to be apologetic and just smile. Some people are just arseholes. Don’t let it ruin your last few days at work.

Isth · 23/01/2019 11:13

Well, you’re taking the piss really. Once I would overlook but you’re not completely exempt of working just because you’re retiring soon, sorry. Also, an extra half hour is not exactly overrunning by 5 minutes 🤷🏼‍♀️

Shoxfordian · 23/01/2019 11:13

Yeah it seems unnecessary but you're leaving in a week, so it doesn't matter

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 23/01/2019 11:13

I'm not sure what he expects to achieve by telling you off - you've got a week left of work! Do you think he may be using you as a way of asserting his authority in the department?

Ignore ignore ignore.

Storminateacup1 · 23/01/2019 11:13

Yes YABU, you’re still getting paid to do your job and contacted hours, you shouldn’t be just coming back when you fancy.
They still have to treat everybody equally, it’s their job.

TokyoSushi · 23/01/2019 11:14

Smile and nod, enjoy your last few days!

GreyhoundzRool · 23/01/2019 11:14

Oh I completely agree - who cares when it’s your last week ? I had a member of staff once who had been on a secondment (about a year out of our office so had missed lots and lots of changes). He came back for a week as he had resigned and I let him go at 2.30 on his last day and got told off for it too ! Ridiculous

Storminateacup1 · 23/01/2019 11:14

*contracted

Littlechocola · 23/01/2019 11:14

You were half an hour late back though.
You haven’t left yet.

Jaxtellerswife · 23/01/2019 11:15

Ok I'd laugh and say with a wink "yep I'll work on that for sure"

GertrudeCB · 23/01/2019 11:15

Smile, nod and be very aware that new boss is a seathing mass of jealousy that you are
a) retiring
b) obviously popular and well thought of.

Lydiaatthebarre · 23/01/2019 11:15

Jeeze I'm glad I don't work with Isth or storminateacup. How inflexible and joyless.

HollowTalk · 23/01/2019 11:15

He's a complete idiot. Everyone knows that you wind down a bit when you're about to retire and that half an hour late back from lunch - if that doesn't put anyone else out - means nothing.

Presumably the other department all came back late - did anyone speak to them about it?

Longtalljosie · 23/01/2019 11:15

He’s making his mark and probably feels threatened by you which is silly as you’re off in a week. I’d take a short lunch today and tell him it’s to make up for your retirement lunch. That way you keep your upper hand and he gets to feel like a petty twat.

yesimthistired · 23/01/2019 11:15

He's a wanker. Ignore and be glad you're retiring.

SleepingStandingUp · 23/01/2019 11:16

Well you're taking advantage of the lack of long term repercussions to come and go as it suits you.

Are they replacing you? Are they in position now? Is someone else picking up the slack whilst you lunch? Answering your phone etc?

FrederickCreeding · 23/01/2019 11:16

Completely ridiculous of your manager. If you've worked for the company for many years, I'm sure there will have been plenty of times when you've done overtime. There needs to be a bit of give and take.

Ignore and enjoy your last week.

Lydiaatthebarre · 23/01/2019 11:17

I would have no problem picking up a bit of slack for someone who's about to retire after years with the company. Are people really that petty?

Itsyersel · 23/01/2019 11:19

@onlyafewdaystogo YABU you took the piss twice, retiring or not you are paid to be there not fannying about out to lunch...so suck it up and do what your paid for!

dancinginthehall · 23/01/2019 11:19

He sounds like a pathetic little jobsworth, more interested in 'the rules' than in treating people like human beings.

I wonder how many people will want to take him our for lunch when he retires.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 23/01/2019 11:20

You’d be excused in most companies I’ve worked for.
Ignore him.

Charlie97 · 23/01/2019 11:20

Omg! What a bloody muppet .... ask him if he wants to put a discipline procedure in place ... agree to a meeting and then ... turn up late!

Silly fecker, he's making a fool of himself and staff will have him marked as a petty miserable mood hoover that he is! Not a good management style.

You'd not even disrupted his team!

Happy retirement!

SarahSissions · 23/01/2019 11:21

It does sound like you have mentally checked out. Your boss is just trying to remind you that you are still there to work.
I think you have also done the wrong thing by telling your colleagues (effectively grassing your boss up to them)

dancinginthehall · 23/01/2019 11:21

She's not 'taking the piss' itsyersel, she's spending her last few days of working life winding down and stepping back a bit, and graciously accepting kind invitations to lunch from soon to be former colleagues.

Are you always so 'by the book' about everything? We all dread getting managers like you where I work.

flamboyantchorizo · 23/01/2019 11:21

I think it's unfair if you work in a place where someone is having to cover for you, or where the break rotas are tight and you've overrun onto someone else's break.

But if it doesn't impact anyone else like that, then what is he really hoping to achieve? Maybe you should suggest it goes into your next performance review!