Mum ringing in sick, for my junior.

[KungFuPandaWorks]

I arrived at work before just checking on the diary and paperwork, and notice one of the junior hairdresser isn't in. One of the stylists (S1) informs me the junior is poorly today.

No big deal we all get poorly, until another stylist (S2) chips in that her mum called on her behalf, and that she's off sick because of a high temperature.

I think it's highly inappropriate having someone ring in on your behalf unless exceptional circumstances (unconscious, hospital, no voice etc) but for a high temp?

S1 thinks that because she's only 16 that's it not so bad that her mum calls on her behalf and I should let it drop.

Myself and S2 think it's absolutely ridiculous she's had her mum ring in on her behalf. Not to mention it's not exactly the greatest reason to be off.

AIBU? WIBU mentioning to her, that in the future she must ring herself unless she is totally unable in doing so.

I think at the age of 16 I would cut her some slack tbh. You're probably right but you were fine with her being off until you discovered her mum rang in

I think if a 16 year old is vomiting having their mum call in is fine.

I’d be expecting any one to be ringing up for themselves if they’re ill and unable to work. It’s the workplace not school.

She's only 16 and might have been nervous about talking to you. A high temperature can make you vomit or faint. So I think yabu.

Sorry misread that she's sick not vomiting. My view is the same. At least if her mum is calling in the likelihood of her actually being sick is obvs quite high.

Nope, she has entered the adult world now so should be doing things like that herself. The only possible exception is if she is someone with crippling anxiety over making phone calls.

The high temp doesn't really sound like a good reason to be off sick either.

At 16 and maybe her first job she's had to call sick for I'd cut her a bit of slack, especially if her only experience us school where a parent has to call her. I'd say to her it was ok this time but in future it has to be her calling unless in the circumstances you said.

What’s the problem with her mum ringing? She may have gone back to sleep. As long as SOMEONE rang it’s fine. Give the kid a break.

I couldn’t get annoyed about this. I might ask her to call herself in future when she gets back but I don’t think it’s a big deal.

I'd maybe mention it to her but not heavy handedly, more like advice for future jobs, and I wouldn't make a big thing of it at all. But she's 16 and presumably in her first job so I wouldn't judge her harshly for it. She's still making the transition from school to workplace.

If I were her mother, I'd have made her call in herself. But she is still a minor, so I think you could cut her some slack.

I do think a high fever is a good reason to call off, btw. I would not be impressed if I went to the salon and someone was breathing their illness all over me.

A high temp is awful and depending how high you can hallucinate with it,it's not just feeling a bit hot , it's completely appropriate to have a member of family ring in. I'm not sure what your issue is tbh.

The high temp doesn't really sound like a good reason to be off sick either.

There’s always someone 🙄

I think a high temperature is a good enough reason to be off. Would you really want your clients getting infected with whatever she’s brewing? As for her mum ringing in - wouldn’t worry me, but maybe when she’s better you can have a word about staff ringing in themselves if it bothers you.

What exactly is in the wording in the staff handbook?

Let her know that you are fine with her being off because she is ill, but expect her to call in herself in future. Wait until she is back though and do it with understanding.

Sometimes, when employees are young they act naively and a new situation can be daunting for them.

There are bigger things to get pissed off about that a mum calling in sick for her 16 year old. Seriously. YABU.

The high temp doesn't really sound like a good reason to be off sick either Don't be so ridiculous.

If my 18 year old is sick I have to ring his school ,they're not allowed to ring in themselves!

I think this is all part of training a junior tbh. A 16yo has all this type of stuff to learn, and if you don't tell her, who will? Nicely, though. No need for twisted knickers.

YABU. A call was made. A fever is a very good reason not to be in! TBH I wouldn't go to any salon where they deliberately exposed customers to fevers! She's also only 16.

I see a lot of she's only 16 give her some slack comments. In all honesty when do you stop giving them some slack?

For the poster who mentioned at least someone called in, most work places have a policy in place that the person themselves call in. There's a reason for that.

Breathing her germs all over you? Its a high temperature not the flu! Her mum's words were " she's a bit warm. Got a temperature kind of thing"

A high temperature is a bloody good reason to be off because it’s one of the most indisputable symptoms of illness there is. You are always fighting something if you have a temperature. Not to mention it leaves you feeling awful.

I think that as she’s 16 she should be given a bit of slack. She’s not a fully developed adult yet. Feel free to mention to her that she should call in sick herself in future, but be nice about it.

Young people have to learn how to navigate the workplace, and there’s no good giving them a telling off when they’re learning something for the first time. Nobody enters the workforce at 16 a fully developed, perfect worker.

Mum is probably used to ringing school if she's / younger siblings are sick so did it out of habit more than anything else.

You are annoyed about this? Work must be otherwise stress free then