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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To have left him stuck in the cellar?

534 replies

FreddysTash · 02/05/2019 14:13

We have a new starter at work who is a pain in the arse. He’s shadowing me and constantly disappears and is always off exploring rather than doing what he should be doing. This morning we were in the office and he asked me where he should put clinical waste. I told him we put it in the cellar but that we didn’t have time to do it now as we had to go out of office. He said he’d be quick. I said no because it takes ages to get down there, he’d need codes for the lift down there, and two different doors. He grabbed a pen and paper and asked me for the codes. Getting frustrated I wrote down the codes and told him to be really quick and off he goes.

15 minutes later he’s still not back so I check time and decide if he isn’t back by half past I’d do without him. Half past came so I packed up and headed to my car. I’d just set off when I got a frantic phone saying he was stuck in one of the rooms in the cellar. I told him to repeat the code he had and it was right so I said he’d just have to keep trying. I drove off. 5 minutes later he started ringing again. I ignored it. All in all 4 missed calls. I rang him back and he admitted he was in a different room and that’s why the code wasn’t working. I told him I’d be back at lunch. It was 9.45 at the time. He started getting irate saying it stunk down there, it was freezing, pitch black and the wind was hammering on the fire doors. I left him until 11. AIBU as he got stuck because he went where he wasn’t supposed to go?

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 02/05/2019 14:29

That’s a dreadful thing to do to someone.

On the bright side, at least he has learnt quickly what you are like.

Saavhi · 02/05/2019 14:29

What if there had been a fire?

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 02/05/2019 14:29

Don't find this funny at all tbh. It wasn't a joke, you did it to punish him. I'd report you if I were in his shoes.

How's it going to go down when he reports you and you have to explain that instead of dealing with any teething problems you had with a new employee that you left him on purpose for nearly two hours in a cold, dark restricted area?

Good luck with that one Hmm

ButtonMoonLoon · 02/05/2019 14:30

Have to not broken H&S rules by leaving him there? I wouldn’t have left the building until knowing he was back safely, tbh

northerngirl2012 · 02/05/2019 14:30

He was clearly being annoying but you were being unreasonable not to go and get him. I'd assume he won't go wandering off again though!

Kokeshi123 · 02/05/2019 14:30

Well, I understand your feelings. But I think there are better ways to deal with people.

Faster · 02/05/2019 14:30

If I was him I’d be reporting you to my line manager and then to any registered body you are part of.
You have been placed a position of trust and seniority in order to train somebody, you chose to dehumanise someone. You should be appalled with yourself, I am.

Meandwinealone · 02/05/2019 14:30

You actually did this. I genuinely can’t believe it.
No matter how annoying someone is, you never treat a colleague like this. I am so shocked. Which is why I don’t really believe it.

If I was him I would go straight to HR

Meandwinealone · 02/05/2019 14:31

I hope you get your arse handed to you

Ceebs85 · 02/05/2019 14:31

If there was a fire the doors will have released.

YWBU However I do admire your balls!

Quartz2208 · 02/05/2019 14:31

Professionally you were in charge and you did not manage him or the situation so if anyone gets in trouble when/if he complains it will be you

RosaWaiting · 02/05/2019 14:31

I'm confused

you could have sent someone to get him, surely?

ButtonMoonLoon · 02/05/2019 14:32

And do you not realise how deeply traumatising that could have been for him?
Anything could have happened, he could have had a fall and cracked his head open, he could have had a panic attack. I’m not seeing the funny side at all, in fact I hope he reports you for it.
As his superior, his welfare and safety is your responsibility. You may not have wanted him to go but by giving him the codes in effect you gave him permission.

cheesemongery · 02/05/2019 14:32

You sounds like a right cow, you shouldn't have given him the codes if you didn't want him going down there. I hope I never have to shadow anybody like you in a new job. He probably seems annoying but I expect he's just keen and trying to be pro-active. I hope he makes a complaint.

Meandwinealone · 02/05/2019 14:32

Why do people think it’s ok to treat someone like this because they were a bit annoying
Jesus wept. Clearly a lot of people who don’t really work in the real world.

Ninkaninus · 02/05/2019 14:32

My emotional (and quite vindictive) mind says absolutely right, serves him right and now he’s learnt his lesson. My rational mind says, eh, not a good thing to do, very unprofessional and could have had terrible consequences.

Saavhi · 02/05/2019 14:33

If there was a fire the doors will have released

And what if the doors were faulty?

TheGrey1houndSpeaks · 02/05/2019 14:33

Admire her balls?? It doesn’t take balls to treat someone so fucking disgracefully.

redexpat · 02/05/2019 14:34

Is he still down there?!

I found it quite funny as he clearly is annoying but as others say you might get into trouble from a h&s point.

Saavhi · 02/05/2019 14:34

Sounds psychopathic tbh

BlueSkiesLies · 02/05/2019 14:35

He sounds like an annoying twat.

However you can not just go and leave someone locked in a room! That is really terrible.

You need to be more professionally assertive "no, I am not giving you the codes, I said we do not have time to go to the cellar. You need to listen to me. Now, collect your things and we will leave for our meeting"

Not just give into his whining and give him the codes.

redexpat · 02/05/2019 14:36

And you did give him the codes.

VaggieMight · 02/05/2019 14:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at poster's request.

Topseyt · 02/05/2019 14:36

Not funny at all. I get that you find him annoying, but that doesn't give you carte blanche to treat him like shit.

You must have breached all sorts of health and safety rules. I hope he reports you and you get your arse handed to you on a plate.

Not a clever thing to do.

HillRunner · 02/05/2019 14:36

Wow. Unprofessional and vindictive. You could have made your point without leaving him stuck in there. What would he have done if there was a fire? I know it's unlikely, but leaving someone locked in a room is not cool.

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