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 hate having to call in sick myself and I’m 48. It mainly comes down to feeling like I don’t sound sick enough even if I’ve been throwing up all night. There’s that real compulsion that you need a proper croaky voice in order for it to be convincing. You also get subjected to questions like “ when do you think you’ll be back”? I mean.... how is anyone supposed to answer that? . I don’t know being the only reasonable response. I’m not surprised a 16 year old bottled it

She should be old enough to ring in herself (even if she’s throwing a sickie) but I’m highly surprised that as an owner of a customer facing business, you are so blasé about staff coming to work when they’re showing signs of a fever

fire Have you read the update. Awkward.

How do you know it wasn’t for the good of her mental health?

miss absolutely right, she wasn't fit enough for work but perfectly fine for a shopping trip out with friends. Think of all her contagious germs she spread! She wasn't sick she threw a sicky and got her mum too cover for her.

Alena - that's a fair point, I don't know the answer too that.

Hmmm, 16. I’d say let it go this time but let her know if it happens again then she needs to speak to you directly.

miss absolutely right, she wasn't fit enough for work but perfectly fine for a shopping trip out with friends. Think of all her contagious germs she spread! She wasn't sick she threw a sicky and got her mum too cover for her

You didn’t know that earlier though. Seriously, you’re working in close contact with the public. Be more responsible.

I’m sorry, you’re being ridiculous. When I have migraine and can’t even hold the phone, someone else has to ring. I’m 42. Also you have absolutely no idea how high her temp is, or why she has one.

Blimey people are giving you a hard time. She obviously threw a sicky yikes. Sounds like she made a mistake . You sound like a good boss as a hairdresser, to get sick pay and more than the apprenticeship wage. Glad you see potential in her and am sure she will know she made a mistake.

Absolutely cut her some slack but do let her know that in the workplace she needs to ring in herself in future unless physical unable to. You can mention it in an informal return to work meeting. They only take 5 minutes.

Getting her mum to notify you if she was genuinely unwell I don’t believe is too much of an issue. My DH had a temperature and was clearly unwell, so I called in for him as by the time work started he had fallen asleep. However going out shopping is not acceptable and I would be pointing out that as she felt better, she should have come into work.

"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?"

When they're actually grown up.

I would stay off work if I had a temperature.

The OP sounds about 16 herself from this thread. And a nightmare to work for.

At 17 I had mumps. I could talk but my mum called work and college for me because I was in bed sleeping with exhaustion. If she has a temp it could be flu symptoms and too achy to move. If she's got her head in a bucket and had to notify you so long before a shift maybe at the time she could not do so. I have to call work at least hour before shift. If my heads in the toilet and I can't call someone's got to do so for me

The last time I had a bad fever (over 40) I probably would have nodded off mid phone call as I couldn’t stay awake and was only waking up for water/toilet. So I could understand the temptation to get someone else to call in.

Maybe mention that in future it’s more professional to call in yourself if you’re physically able to. But she’s only 16, I would expect the mum to know better, but not necessarily the junior.

Spying on a children's Social Media page is despicable, you breached her GDPR on here and with your stylists. I suggest you stop before I report you myself for not safeguarding a child under your employment, and yes I can do that.

fireflyeden Spying on a children's Social Media page is despicable, you breached her GDPR
Easy tiger. Are you referring to the 16 yo Snapchatting all her friends which happened to include the op? Not a Gdpr breach and hardly spying

When I had swine flu my DH called.work.for me and I was 48 at the time!! I too had a high temp (40deg.plus) and was practically delirious for big chunks of time over 2 days, though I was lucid for some periods in that Luckily my boss was fine with it and did not insist on me calling myself. I see absolutely no problem in someone calling in on a sick person's behalf and I have had responsible well paid jobs for over 30 years.

I sometimes wonder what world I have lived in the last 50+ years when I see some posts

If you want the child ( and she is a child still) to.call in herself in future just tell her you would.prefer that she call herself in future and maybe leave the righteous indignation at the door when you speak to her. I can't see what there is to get so worked up about

You need to check the law. The ill person doesn't by law have to contact the employer except within a specified time.

I was in a coma once - an actual coma - so my husband let work know (which i was pretty impressed about because if he was in a coma I don't think I'd have the presence of mind to do that) and when i got back to work my HR had "a gentle word" about calling in myself when i was sick. I was too shocked to even have a sarcastic response to that. Luckily i didn't have a very convenient shopping trip snapchat to make them look less petty.
Where i work now i can text my boss which is lovely and very sensible.

fire want my details will help you compose your complaint better

I didn't think you could like Snapchats? How could you like her social media post if she put it on Snapchat?

In your original point I wouldn't worry too much about a 16yr olds mum phoning in for her, she's an apprentice and still learning. When she turns 18 I would be more jnhaooy, but I still wouldnt bitch about a 16yr old girl with my work colleagues.

If you have genuine reason to believe she was skiving then you'll have to deal with it. I'd be surprised someone who shone so well in an interview could be so stupid tbh