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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:
colditz · 13/05/2019 17:56

She's 16 and still comes under the children's act. She's still a child. If she were at college, they would expect parents to authorise absence. It really doesn't matter what you expect - at 16 her mum is still very much parenting her.

Nonnymum · 13/05/2019 17:56

I don't understand why it's a problem if her Mum or anyone else phones in on her behalf. If she's ill she will probably just want to be in bed. Where I work it's not uncommon for DPs to phone in for people who are sick. As long as you know they are sick and can't come into work why does it matter?

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/05/2019 17:57

OP, when she comes back, i'd just inquire if she's feeling better and then say quite casually that it's normal for people to ring in for themselves when they are working.

MyCatHogsTheBed · 13/05/2019 17:57

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.

This.

One thing though - given that she is under 18 how does this square with safeguarding policy? It might be for the best that while she is under 18 you speak with her parent when she will be off - otherwise she could call in sick and go off and get herself into a risky situation and neither her parent nor the adult responsible for her at work (you) would know.

LaBelleSauvage · 13/05/2019 17:59

I'm sure the other doctors on here will agree.

Regarding the mum phoning: at school you are unable to self certify. She will be used to her mum doing it and may have forgotten the minutiae of her contract. Just pleasantly remind her when she is well enough to return to call in herself next time

somecakefather · 13/05/2019 17:59

Her mum's words were " she's a bit warm. Got a temperature kind of thing"

Well I think it's a bit ridiculous to be off from work for that reason only. If she had come in and it got any worse I'm sure she could have went home then.

In my old workplace, a grown man got his wife to ring in sick for him to say he wouldn't be in because he had a tickly cough😄.

Skittlesss · 13/05/2019 17:59

Is everything ok with her? There’s been nothing that seems to have upset her recently or anything?

Just thinking if she was amazing at the interview and now she’s blobbed and had her mum ring in, then maybe there’s more to it?

MiniMum97 · 13/05/2019 18:00

I hate this ridiculous line that the employee must ring in. If I'm sick I want to rest and sleep. I don't want to wake up early just to call in. If it's the same day I'll have already got up at my normal time, realised I am unwell and gone back to bed. I don't want to have to set my alarm to wake up again just to call in. This is a completely unreasonable expectation. I often get my husband to call in for me as he can do this on the way into work for this reason. As long as the employer has been informed I can't see what the problem is. If you don't trust hat the staff member is really ill you can address that when going back to work or ask them to call in later if appropriate when they are awake so you can speak to them directly. There is really no need for you to disturb someone who is ill and prevent them from resting. It may also impact them getting back to work earlier!

WombatChocolate · 13/05/2019 18:01

She should have phoned herself but as she is very young she might not have realised.

I'd agree with others who say that on her return, just nicely tell her that in the workplace call in sick for themselves and that in future she should do this. I wouldn't make a big deal of it this time.

If it were someone older I wouldn't be quite so gentle, but a 16 year old is leaning EVERYTHING about the world of work and you will need to spell it all out and assume very little.

Regarding the temperature - different issue to the mum calling in, but a valid reason for being off. As an employer you do have to give your staff the responsibility for deciding what is too ill to work. If someone starts having excessive amounts of time off, you need a policy for dealing with with it.

Doobigetta · 13/05/2019 18:01

I think if you’re old enough to work, you’re old enough to notify absence yourself. However I also think it should be fine for staff to text or email, as long as they do it before their shift is supposed to start, and as long as they provide a number you can call back on and they answer if you do.

AbbyHammond · 13/05/2019 18:03

She's not really "old enough to work" though, is she? At 16 she's young enough to have to be in education or training still.

llangennith · 13/05/2019 18:03

I'm with MiniMum97 on this. Does it really matter who notifies work?

MountainDweller · 13/05/2019 18:05

A temperature is not a good reason Shock? It's a damn good reason! Do you regularly work with a high temperature? Do your other staff?

Please tell us where you work so I can warn all my friends to avoid your salon for the sake of their health.

Missingstreetlife · 13/05/2019 18:07

What does her contract/terms and conditions say?
Gently bring it to her attention when she returns to work so she knows what is expected in future.

somecakefather · 13/05/2019 18:08

Just stop bitching and gossiping to your staff and online, and actually train her

Eh why are people making things up, how ironic that you say the OP is 'bitching'.

OP this thread is batshit🤣, god knows what your crime is. I'd go with the "good to see you back, just ring in yourself in future".

handbagfettish · 13/05/2019 18:09

To be fair the girl could have been sleeping on and off - if she has a high temperature she will feel rotten. It might just have been easier for her mum to let her sleep than for the girl to wake up to phone in.

diddl · 13/05/2019 18:10

Perhaps the mum should just have said that her daughter was ill & wouldn't be in?

It would have saved the speculation as to whether or not she was deemed ill enouh by her co workers.

Shootingstar1115 · 13/05/2019 18:12

If she was a fully grown adult I’d think it was bad but at 16 she may of been a little nervous calling in sick. She’s probably used to calling in sick to school etc.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 13/05/2019 18:12

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Original poster
KungFuPandaWorks · 13/05/2019 18:18

Her temp must have been that bad that only a day out shopping with a few friends was the only cure. A believe a doctor commented. Is this the nornal prescription for a temp, doctor? You know best.

Love social media.

You was saying Haud

OP posts:
Cottonwoolmouth · 13/05/2019 18:22

I think your blowing it to out of proportion a bit. It also looks like you all have been discussing it at work.

She is only 16 and obviously it’s the first time she has done it, a quick reminder to call in her self would suffice. I hope she doesn’t walk in to a bad atmosphere tomorrow.

Paraballa · 13/05/2019 18:23

You sound bloody awful OP. Unprofessional, unkind, lacking in empathy and generally a poor manager.

IncrediblySadToo · 13/05/2019 18:24

I really don’t care who makes the call as long as someone lets me know.

It makes absolutely no difference whether it’s a parent, husband, wife, flatmate or anyone else.

I’d FAR rather my staff member was looking after themselves and not staying awake to call at an appropriate time or anything else.

Fluffy36 · 13/05/2019 18:25

Perhaps it's a cover story and there is something more embarrassing going on and the poor girl feels awkward. You've been informed, she has managed the situation and you need to decide whether she is trustworthy or not for the future. Yes, ideally she would ring, but there is a whiff of micromanaging going on here.

exLtEveDallas · 13/05/2019 18:26

Oh dear, she chucked a sickie then! Better have a word tomorrow OP

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