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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
nothinglikeadame · 02/05/2019 15:43

Absolutely shocking behaviour, and not at all hilarious or ballsy.

If this lad wasn't doing as he was told and disappearing, then you should have informed your line manager.

Instead, what you've done is give him door codes that you shouldn't have, then committed a horrible incident of bullying by leaving him trapped in a room.

If I was your manager you would be out of the door for gross misconduct

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/05/2019 15:45

Drip feed or not you were supposed to be training this new starter, what you did was not acceptable. I hope you are far more professional tomorrow.

nothinglikeadame · 02/05/2019 15:45

The backtracking drip feed doesn't make things any better.

Sindragosan · 02/05/2019 15:49

What you should have done is called your manager if they're on site, explained you couldn't wait, and could they please let him out, and then he'd get bollocked again.

You want to be doing your utmost to get rid of this guy before he passes probation and you're stuck with him. I've worked with many of these guys and they're a massive pain to everyone, especially as you end up doing their work as well as your own.

VapeVamp12 · 02/05/2019 15:49

If there was a fire the doors will have released.

You really think all buildings have up to standard and functioning fire processes / protection?!

MullofKintire · 02/05/2019 15:51

OP, if this is true, you are a bully.

AzraiL · 02/05/2019 15:53

If the OP provided codes the employee should not have had, I think it's entirely possible he didn't want to contact anyone else to let him out in order to (misguidedly) protect the OP.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/05/2019 15:54

alligatorsmile exactly

Jakesmumandbump · 02/05/2019 15:54

Very unkind. I hope my children are never treated like that at work.

MumUnderTheMoon · 02/05/2019 15:55

YABU couldn't you have rung someone else in the office to let him out. Or not have given him the codes in the first place. Funny that you'll stick to your guns when it comes to leaving someone locked in a cold dark room but not when it comes to not giving him the codes in the first place.

Memeface · 02/05/2019 15:56

Sounds like he was in dire need of a lesson. Such arrogance and only a newbie?!

Booboostwo · 02/05/2019 15:57

If there was a fire he could have exited the cellar through the fire doors which would have set off the alarm and alerted everyone to the fire.

If he had a medical problem he could have called someone else to let him out.

He could also not have been an arsehole and locked himself in the clear in the first place.

OP I suggest you write a dispassionate and factual account of events, pointing out all the times the trainee refused to follow your advice and the various options he had for getting himself out but refused to take, just in case the idiot puts in a complaint.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 02/05/2019 15:58

I think the arrogant little twat got what he deserved, not that most of the mealy-mouthed twittering snowflakes on here will agree with you cos he will be you know, like traumatised for the rest of his overprotected, infantilsed life. Good on yer Op. Next time perhaps he will listen to you Grin

cabcab · 02/05/2019 16:01

Totally unprofessional

Tavannach · 02/05/2019 16:01

Next time perhaps he will listen to you

If she hasn't been fired for misconduct.

goodwinter · 02/05/2019 16:02

You're both UR!

I'm surprised you gave him the codes to a restricted area in the first place, if it wasn't appropriate for him to go there at the time. He sounds like a total shite, but it's up to you to enforce proper professional behaviour and it doesn't sound like you did that at all.

Having said that... yes, you have balls of steel. 😳

NewYoiker · 02/05/2019 16:02
Biscuit
Halloumimuffin · 02/05/2019 16:03

'Next time perhaps he will listen to you'

Listen to what - OP gave him the codes and the permission to walk off, and I don't recall anywhere in her story where she told him not to go into any other rooms.

He didn't have to listen to her - she just had to not give him the codes.

Thatdilemma · 02/05/2019 16:05

The drip feed is completely irrelevant.
If he's not doing as told you report that to the next in line.
If he's not listening then the same.

At the point the op gave him codes she became responsible.
At the very least she should have rang or gone to the next in line and said I've sent Bob down to do the waste, he's not come back and I have not got time to wait.
When he rang to say he was stuck she should have rang a colleague and reported it .

Assuming Bob had had a medical emergency the OP would be fucked.

As an Area Manager there would be no excuse what so ever if someone I employed had done what the OP did. There are procedures and the OP should have followed them never mind given him the codes, been contacted to say he was stuck and left him because he was irritating her.

I actually don't think he will have the guts to complain but one day he might. Especially if they try to get rid of him.

I'd love to know where you work that has a phone signal in the cellar though!

Squigglesworth · 02/05/2019 16:05

With the additional information that he wasn't actually trapped and could have left, if he was willing to face the music-- I don't think it was such a terrible thing to do.

He won't like you for it, of course, but it doesn't sound as though you were destined to be great friends, anyway. Maybe he's learned his lesson, now, and will follow instructions.

Thatdilemma · 02/05/2019 16:10

'IwantedtobeEmmaPeel

I think the arrogant little twat got what he deserved, not that most of the mealy-mouthed twittering snowflakes on here will agree with you cos he will be you know, like traumatised for the rest of his overprotected, infantilsed life. Good on yer Op. Next time perhaps he will listen to you'

The OP GAVE him the codes.
Ergo giving him permission to go down there.
I'm an area manager. I don't think he will be traumatised but I do think if an employee of mine had done anything that could have got ME hauled over the coals health and safety wise they would be gone.

There are ways of dealing with nightmare co workers. This isn't one of them or where do you draw the line...

ContessaIsOnADietDammit · 02/05/2019 16:11

Served him right IMO!

AWishForWingsThatWork · 02/05/2019 16:11

With your update, it sounds like he's a nosy little bugger and a slow learner. Serves him right. I hope he gets bollocked again for repeating the behaviour and wasting other people's time.

ChicCroissant · 02/05/2019 16:12

I hope this isn't true, it's hard to believe someone could be so spiteful.

Should he have been there? No. Should the OP have left without him? No. You should have gone looking for him if he didn't return, YABU OP. And very likely to be sacked along with him if your organisation discovers that you knowingly left him somewhere he shouldn't have been.

Reminds me of that thread where a worker complained of being bullied by her workmates and shut in a cupboard, deleted IIRC so can't link.

RosaWaiting · 02/05/2019 16:15

OP are you going to tell us how he reacted to this?