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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mum ringing in sick, for my junior.

452 replies

KungFuPandaWorks · 13/05/2019 16:19

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 14/05/2019 13:01

nishky surely come into work then if you feel better. If you feel well enough to spend the day shopping you're well enough to go into work?

OP posts:
Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 14/05/2019 13:03

How on earth has Hilary Clinton and the white house been brought into this?

OP posts:
Cottonwoolmouth · 14/05/2019 13:04
Grin
6demandingchildren · 14/05/2019 14:00

When I first read your OP I thought you were being a tad harsh about the phone call, as my mum has no empathy and she should of said the same thing even if I was on death's door.
But on reading that she sent you a mistaken snapchat your instincts were spot on, and if she was feeling better she could of got her mum to phone the salon back to see if her shift was covered or if it was ok for her to return to work.
By the tone of her mum it sounds like she is probably fed up of doing the sickie call and she probably does not care about her daughter's career.
I would not phone in sick for my children if they were not genuinely ill as that promotes the wrong message, I have called in sick for my daughter once and I said that I could not tell them why but my daughter will have a sick note (she was having a miscarriage) her employer's were great as she decided to explain to them and they supported her.
Maybe support her and encourage her and tell her you know she want really ill but if she wants a career with you then you will be there for her, I can see how difficult this is for you.

BlingLoving · 14/05/2019 14:09

Haha. On a lighter note, had similar at work on night of Obama winning presidency - one woman called in sick. Completely forgetting that she was on social media with most of the office and had been posting real time updates on the voting all night in her excitement. She was just exhausted from being up all night!

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 14/05/2019 14:15

well, she's about to learn the hard way that you don't throw sickies and a) get your mum to cover for you and b) post a photo showing you're skiving to a group your boss is a member of.

Silly little girl. It actually sounds like she's very lucky having you as her boss as you;re not going to show her the door and can see beyond this, but she needs to pull her socks up.

(A couple of girls in my sixth form at school pulled a sickie to go and watch Wimbledon. Unfortunately they were spotted on TV by a member of staff watching at lunchtime...)

Nishky · 14/05/2019 14:16

nishky surely come into work then if you feel better. If you feel well enough to spend the day shopping you're well enough to go into work?

Well yes, that is what I would do- but you are spectacularly ( and I suspect deliberately) missing my point that it does not automatically make it a ‘fake’ temperature!

BishopBrennansArse · 14/05/2019 14:19

Poor kid having a boss who is unprofessional enough to bitch about her to colleagues and all over forums. Was that her social media post that the OP stuck up here and got deleted?

That's not defending the 16 year old's actions by the way

somecakefather · 14/05/2019 14:39

I'm sure you're paying her less due to her lack of experience so you can't complain about it

Ah now come on, what the ACTUAL feckin hell is going on with this thread? Most of you have lost the plot.

pigsDOfly · 14/05/2019 14:50

I'm sure you're paying her less due to her lack of experience so you can't complain about it

I'm sure she knows enough about the world of work to understand that it's not ok to pull a sickie, which is why she got her mother to call in for her I imagine.

When I started work back in the day, I remember girls at school talking about doing hairdressing apprenticeships. Not only did they not get paid but if I remember correctly, they had to pay the hairdressers for their apprenticeship.

pigsDOfly · 14/05/2019 14:50

That first line should be in bolt as I was quoting pp.

pantsville · 14/05/2019 15:02

So far, has anyone actually been able to articulate a reason why it matters who phones? Sounds like another ridiculous workplace etiquette such as banning employees from discussing salaries.

Theoldwoman · 14/05/2019 15:06

I have rung in before for my 16 year old.

And I have been a manager where parents have phoned m,e to let me know their 16 year old is sick and won't be in.

In all honesty , it's more likely to be genuine coming from a parent.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 14/05/2019 15:12

pants I have never worked anywhere where I think it would be considered acceptable to get someone else to ring in for you. Partly it feels very babyish to not ring in yourself and partly because it's quite hard to fake illness on the phone so why not get someone else to ring it for you? Though all that is irrelevant if you;re texting or emailing, which is what I' do these days.

But mainly, it's babyish to get your mum to ring in, and frankly I'd question someone's maturity if they felt the need to do this.

Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 14/05/2019 15:29

All banging on about does it matter who rings. Yes. Yes it does seeing as she's aware of the procedure.

Nishky I think you're purposely missing the point. There wasn't a temperature because she threw a sicky. And if you read an update you'd understand why I thought it was a strange excuse.

OP posts:
WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 14/05/2019 15:32

I would also expect someone who had a temperature to take a paracetomol. At least try to make it in!

Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 14/05/2019 15:35

bishop haven't stuck any social media post up 👍

OP posts:
spanishwife · 14/05/2019 15:35

@KungFuPandaWorks Jobs you have when you are 16 is exactly how you learn what the right or wrong thing to do is. Obviously her mum thinks it's fine, so she is probably just listening to her mum and doesn't know what the 'right thing to do' is in this situation. When she's back just be kind and say, 'hope you're feeling better, but next time you should call in yourself please as that is what is expected of employees'.

Alsohuman · 14/05/2019 15:41

But why do you have that procedure, OP? Like others, I’m still struggling to understand any relevance in who makes the phone call. I genuinely never cared when I managed people. It made no difference.

IncrediblySadToo · 14/05/2019 15:46

All banging on about does it matter who rings. Yes. Yes it does seeing as she's aware of the procedure

‘Because I said so’

🙄 people are asking why it’s policy.

You’ve made it clear you’re the owner so everyone has to do as they’re told. Fine. But that doesn’t explain WHY you (or loads of other employers) think it’s necessary. I don’t. I’m happy for someone else to ring.

ClaraMatilda · 14/05/2019 15:59

I once had a parent phone in for me when I was in my early twenties. I was really ill - high temperature, disorientation and confusion, vomiting and diarrhea most of the night. They wanted me to call out a doctor but I was stubborn about it. I tried to go to sleep at about 5am and asked that if I happened to still be sleeping at 7 when I needed to call work, could they do it instead of waking me.

My manager was fine about it even though the usual policy was to call up yourself. Discretion and common sense.

OP's employee actually having lied about being ill is a separate issue from who calls in.

Nishky · 14/05/2019 15:59

I am not missing any point. How do you know she did not have a temperature- AT THE POINT THAT HER MOTHER CALLED.

Unless you were there with a thermometer you do not know for certain.

Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 14/05/2019 16:08

Because then surely If the temp disappeared you get your arse into work.

I don't think I have too explain the reasons why I have my rules, just the fact that it's there. That's like me questioning why you have certain rules in your house/children. Doesn't matter the reason at all. You're just being picky for the sake of being picky.

OP posts:
Okwhereisit · 14/05/2019 16:08

At least someone phoned in to give you notice. Many moons ago when I worked in hospitality the number of people who never bothered calling and were unreachable makes me grateful now for any notice that someone is off, either skiving or genuinely I'll.

Alsohuman · 14/05/2019 16:10

That’s ridiculous, you’ve got a rule which appears completely pointless and refuse to explain why. You’re just reinforcing its pointlessness.