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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:
StCharlotte · 13/05/2019 16:49

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 get paid a proper adult wage?

This isn't specifically directed at you OP as I have no idea what your pay rates are, but I do a lot of external payroll stuff and some of the rates the youngsters, especially apprentices, are on - notwithstanding they are still working a full week - are almost criminal (in a legal kind of way...).

pigsDOfly · 13/05/2019 16:50

Well, when you explain to her that having her mum ring in for her is not acceptable, she'll know and that will be something she learned about the work place that she clearly doesn't already know.

It's very possible that she's feeling really rough, sick and delirious; a very high temperature can do that to you.

At least someone rang you to let you know she's not well and it gave you a good excuse to have a good old moan about her to your staff.

PuppyMonkey · 13/05/2019 16:50

I think it’s fine, just tell her nicely in future she must call in herself.

She’ll need to practice her “I’m so poorly” voice first - the one we all reserve for such matters - obviously. Grin

Everydaypeople · 13/05/2019 16:50

Wow,try being a bit compassionate to a sick employee rather than jumping on the internet to start a thread about her.
You’re one of those bosses aren’t you?

zippey · 13/05/2019 16:50

Her mum ringing doesn’t mean she is less sick. It’s fine. The only issue I would see is in the rare event of a kidnapping or murder where the perpetrator stops you informing the police to buy themselves more time.

ShesABelter · 13/05/2019 16:50

If my daughter leaves school and enters the workplace at 16 your damn right she will be calling in sick herself. If you are mature enough to leave school and start working then you are responsible for everything that goes along with that, including calling in sick. So yes I'd mention it.

However, I wouldn't want someone working with me or doing my hair who has a high temperature which means you are ill and your body's fighting something.

ViolentGin · 13/05/2019 16:51

Slightly awkward, seeing as I'm the owner

I get the sarcasm OP but actually it is awkward - you are the owner, so why doesn't your staff member know the correct procedure? Had she been told? Or are you expecting her to know?

She is 16. It is probably her first job. She is still a child. It isn't the end of the world that her mum called in, she is ill and probably a bit scared to call.

diddl · 13/05/2019 16:51

*"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."*

So you've all been discussing it in her absence then?

What's it got to to with the others-you're the boss & have set the policy.

Mintandthyme · 13/05/2019 16:51

I also agree that it’s unprofessional of you as the business owner to be discussing this with S1 and S2.

Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 13/05/2019 16:51

Zippy I'm all well aware of the policies and procedures. Turns out she did get told about the policies and has signed the policies, according to my manager. I never went through them myself with her as I was on mat leave.

OP posts:
DarlingNikita · 13/05/2019 16:52

16 or not, she's at work and so should consider herself old enough to phone in sick for herself (unless of course it was a head-down-the-loo-pan thing, which in this case it wasn't).

And her mum could at least have tried to make it sound more serious. 'she's a bit warm' is the kind of thing you'd say about a very mildly under-the-weather three-month-old.

sonjadog · 13/05/2019 16:53

I think she should have rung in herself, but at 16 she is still learning about how to be in the workplace, so I wouldn't get heavy handed with her, just say when she is back that the policy is that she rings herself and to do that in future. And leave it at that.

Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 13/05/2019 16:54

everyday

Yep, I am. That horrendous of a boss I pay her well above apprentice wages. Pay sick days off. That horrendous I've had my own shop for many years and every single person who works there was my apprentice at some point. Must be pretty fucking horrible to work for.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 13/05/2019 16:54

The high temp doesn't really sound like a good reason to be off sick either.
Seriously? A high temp means you are ill!! I'd also cut her some slack. At 16, she's still a kid. At least you got a call rather than a text or email.

Laiste · 13/05/2019 16:54

So what will you do now OP? What have you got out of this?

Popcorntwice · 13/05/2019 16:57

Poor girl is probably getting paid peanuts yet you're annoyed about this?!

daisyjgrey · 13/05/2019 16:57

I think you should probably find more important things to get frustrated about.

DotForShort · 13/05/2019 16:57

I'm usually the first to decry helicopter parents, but in this case I think it's fine that the employee's mother called. The important thing is that the message got to you. The messenger doesn't really matter IMO.

I remember my mother phoning my dad's employer when he was very ill. I would do the same for a family member if the need arose.

Quartz2208 · 13/05/2019 16:58

She is an apprentice so it is the equilvalent of an full time education but you pay her so her mum ringing in makes sense. I would say it ceases to be (unless you cant physically do it) when you are an adult

And stop with the its just a high temperature, its never just a high temp that is a symptom of an infection either viral or bacterial. And you can be incapacitated with it

BrokenWing · 13/05/2019 16:58

Has anyone sat down with her, given her a copy of and went through the absence reporting procedures with her when she started? A junior will not know these things unless they are told, they also need to be told how long they can self cert for, what is expected for contact when off, their sick pay etc etc.

If she hasn't been told you need to fix the gap in your induction process. If she had been told you need to remind her it is not acceptable and formal warning will be given next time.

EmployeeOfTheMonth2019 · 13/05/2019 17:00

Just have a quiet word when she's back. It's no biggie.

And I say that as a small business owner myself.

Hopoindown31 · 13/05/2019 17:01

You have been informed by a representative of your employee that she is ill, what is wrong and that she will not be in work today. Why you are getting upset about it as you wouldn't be in any different a position if she had called herself is beyond me.

Motheroffeminists · 13/05/2019 17:04

So it's not very professional of her to have her mum phone in sick for her, but you think nothing of having a good old bitch about her to your staff Hmm

azulmariposa · 13/05/2019 17:05

If she's got a high temperature then it's the body's way of fighting infection. I'm sure you wouldn't want her passing that on to any of your clients.
Also, if you're getting on your high horse about her mum calling in, perhaps she was too scared to do so herself. She didn't let you down by not showing up, she had the decency to get someone to call on her behalf.
And if she's only 16, then she's doing her exams at the moment, and probably shouldn't be working anyway!

girlwithadragontattoo · 13/05/2019 17:06

You remind me of an old manager. Made we come into work when i had the measles. I'm not surprised she has someone else call in for her going by the tone of the thread