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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:
morningconstitutional2017 · 23/01/2019 14:17

Well, yes but ... it's probably better not to overdo it or you'll leave under a cloud and that's never good.

I think you'll find that he will reap as he sows. At least you can be happy knowing that you can leave all this behind you and he can get stuffed very soon, but don't say so out loud.

BejamNostalgia · 23/01/2019 14:17

Have a nice retirement OP. But I do think it would have been polite to tell him you might be a little bit late and text to give him an idea when you’d be back. It’s just politeness to keep people informed.

dancinginthehall · 23/01/2019 14:19

Bejam she asked him if it was okay to go for a retirement lunch with colleagues from another Dept. Why would she be asking that if she didn't expect to be back a bit late?

Schuyler · 23/01/2019 14:20

YANBU. Such a non issue. Enjoy your lunches, ignore your manager. Happy retirement! Grin

45andahalf · 23/01/2019 14:26

What a jobsworth. Ignore him, who cares, you're retiring in a few days! I took a two hour lunch yesterday because my friends took me out for a meal because I'm getting married next week and yesterday was my last day in the office. I had to reschedule a meeting with my boss so I didn't have to come back sooner. He was fine with it because he's lovely, and he's sensible enough to know that I'll also go the extra mile for him in return, when it's needed.

strawberrypenguin · 23/01/2019 14:27

I think it depends on the job you do. In my workplace you being half an hour late back would have knock on consequenses for someone else. If you're just at a desk though I don't see too much of an issue.

LagunaBubbles · 23/01/2019 14:30

Echt she is employed but it is the norm in her company to wind down, what work was there for her to do?

Not a get out of jail free card form the work premises

Nope doesn't answer the question. She had no actual work. And it is the company norm to wind down.

ILuvBirdsEye · 23/01/2019 14:31

Where I work, if you have any work to do in the last few days, then you haven't handed it over properly Smile
Enjoy your retirement!

echt · 23/01/2019 14:33

Laguna

The contact is about times and hours.

CoraPirbright · 23/01/2019 14:36

I am a terrible stickler for time keeping, really quite rigid about it. But from what you say regarding just puttering about tidying your desk and finishing the last few bits of filing it really doesnt sound like you are having any impact on anything or anyone.

In this instance I would continue on as you are and if he grumbles again I would say “what are you going to do, fire me?!”

Asshat.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 23/01/2019 14:40

I think an apology email is in order, I would write the following

Dear Stickler,

I have been thinking about your telling off, and your are right, it is simply not good enough that I am not present in the office when you expect me to be. I will be doing some deep reflection over the next few days on how I can improve my professional persona. I'm sure that you will be delighted to hear that you can expect to see a new and improved attitude from me starting this day next week.

Best regards
Only

LagunaBubbles · 23/01/2019 14:40

The contact is about times and hours

Oh yes the contract regarding times and hours the OP will have worked before under, and never worked through lunch before or worked after their contracted hours ever? That contract? Good managers know its all about give and take to get the best out of people. Bad ones don't.

ReflectentMonatomism · 23/01/2019 14:42

The contact is about times and hours.

The most restrictive contract I have ever had specified 80 hours a fortnight including 10 lunch hours. My current contract does not specify hours, either daily, weekly or yearly, and has no formal leave arrangements. I am hardly in edge case weird occupations.

stevie69 · 23/01/2019 14:42

Seriously? She's retiring after many years working for the company and her arse of a manager is picking over the odd half hour.

OP. Tell him to do one. And ... I wish you a long and happy retirement Flowers

ReflectentMonatomism · 23/01/2019 14:43

And if I were hassled over time keeping I would have a fucking great alarm clock on my desk set for the precise time I could leave, and would leave as it rang, mid task or mid sentence. Sauce for the goose, etc.

Tanith · 23/01/2019 14:45

Some years ago, one of my colleagues was actually sacked on his last day for exactly this - the company was notorious for long, boozy lunches, too!

What a petty time to start cracking down on time-keeping!

blackteasplease · 23/01/2019 14:47

What does he mean "in future"? There is no in future as you are leaving!

dancinginthehall · 23/01/2019 14:47

I presume then, Echt, that you agree that if some kind of crisis blows up at work at 4.30, all those who are contracted to finish at 5 can just put on their coats and go, leaving only senior managers to cope?

Or does your strict adherence to 'the contract' only work one way?

joanmcc · 23/01/2019 14:49

Enjoy you're retirement, and ignore the "well I would discipline, sack, flog and behead you if you worked for me" - those sorts of comments come from bored fantasists who have either never worked a day in their life, or have never been anywhere near line management.

joanmcc · 23/01/2019 14:49

*your retirement

I'm away to burn my computer

Mayrhofen · 23/01/2019 14:49

I think your boss is being more than a bit harsh.

That said, my colleague announced last summer that he would be retiring in May this year when he turns 60.

And when I say he has done absolutely fuck all since the announcement I am not joking.

Paul, if you are out there, yes! I mean you. Stop project managing your kitchen (you have already done your bathroom and garage conversion and my patience is wearing thin) and get back to your desk.

agedknees · 23/01/2019 14:53

Ignore. My last day I was told I was on the late. We used to do one late a week unpaid, with TOIL. I was supposed to work until 14.30hrs, when I officially retired, then hang around until 17.00hrs and take up any clinics that had not finished.

My managers face when I walked into her office in mufti with my uniforms at 14.45 was priceless.

Op, enjoy your retirement, it’s lovely.

storm11111 · 23/01/2019 14:54

why did you bother creating this thread! Who cares! Your retiring, its not like bad timekeeping is going on your next reference!

FuckingYuleLog · 23/01/2019 14:59

Maybe the manager just thinks a week long celebration of taking numerous staff away from the office for drawn out meals is a little excessive. The op isn’t Beyoncé (I don’t think). She’s someone retiring from an office job. Is a leaving do not enough anymore?

dancinginthehall · 23/01/2019 15:03

Wow, who pissed on your chips stormlll

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