Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss says I have to work tonight or will face disciplinary.

484 replies

Partygal · 31/12/2019 10:51

Some of my colleagues are on here so have name changed.

I work in a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year job. Everyone has to take their turn at doing the shit shifts.

As I was off over Christmas last year, I willingly took my turn to work and did Christmas and Boxing Day. It suited me as I am going to a party tonight that I have been looking forward to a lot.

My colleague who was supposed to be working tonight sent me a text earlier today saying he can’t work tonight due to illness!!! (Yeah right!) He went on to say he was just giving me the heads up to block the manager’s number.

I thanked him and said no way was I working because I’ve done my time in work over Christmas.

Anyway my boss rang up as predicted - using someone else’s phone. She first asked why everyone seemed to have blocked her number, and asked if my colleague had already told me that he wasn’t going to work that night. I denied it.

She went on to say what I already knew that he won’t be at work tonight. I told her that I would not be covering. She says no one else she has managed to speak to, can get child care at such short notice and nor can she. According to her, “it has to be me.”

I still said no. She said she would try everyone else again, and threatened me with “consequences” if I turn my phone off. She has come back and has again said she can’t find anyone else to work. She says I will face a disciplinary if I don’t go in. I told her to go fuck herself. She has been texting repeatedly every since and has just told me that I will be fired for this.

Can she do this?

OP posts:
BlouseAndSkirt · 31/12/2019 17:14

She can’t prove I swore at her, and I have been told to deny that I did

Shocking. And wrong, whatever the rights and wrongs of the rest of it.

If you do that OP, she will know forever that you are a liar and not to be trusted.

BoxedWine · 31/12/2019 17:18

This doesn't exactly sound like a workplace where trust is a big deal, so I doubt OP gives too many fucks.

radioband · 31/12/2019 17:29

She just doesn't want to have to do the shift herself. I presume you work in some sort of care sector. The on call staff manager is responsible for sorting it out and if they can't get cover they have to cover it. Not your problem. Enjoy your night and forget about it.

homeishere · 31/12/2019 17:30

You sound like a great employee.

bmbonanza · 31/12/2019 17:37

keep all evidence - eg texts. She cant sack you but she can - and will - make your life hell

justasking111 · 31/12/2019 17:38

So the employees had a round robin series of messages telling each other not to answer phones because it was NYE and the boss was trying to get cover. That is somewhat unprofessional.

My colleague head of department has a works phone her husband sticks it in a drawer turned off she comes off all social media as well. Before that head office would contact her day and night, one of them would ping messages at 3am when they could not sleep. It really is not on.

TwentyViginti · 31/12/2019 18:09

MistyCloud It's true employers have the upper hand now and treat staff like 24 hour on call robots. Going to get worse too, as our Dear Leader will do away with EU instigated workers rights as soon as legally possible. Unions are weakened, and the gig economy further erodes workers rights. Minimum wage Employees kowtow out of fear.

We are slipping back to Victorian times and not in a good way.

ivykaty44 · 31/12/2019 18:10

Unprofessional, is OP actually working in a professional job?
Why should OP behave as a professional when clearly the work place has a shambolic manager

ivykaty44 · 31/12/2019 18:12

Unions are weakened they are as strong as their membership

Shinyletsbebadguys · 31/12/2019 18:14

Personally I know staff do this in my industry and frankly I dont blame them. It's incredibly upsetting and frustrating when people call out over Christmas but frankly it happens all the time. I know when we used to ring the first carers they would warn the others. I have no compunction about begging but threatening is just really really bad management.

We are 24/7 and ultimately if it goes down the managers go in as it should be. The person calling out of proven they were pulling a fast one would absolutely be disciplined and may well lose their job but not for refusing to do an extra shift.

OP take thise texts to your senior manager asap on Tues (hell forward them now if you have their number ) I used to be a senior manager in this sort of situation and I would absolutely discipline the manager.

QuestionableMouse · 31/12/2019 18:14

@Fairenuff because some of us have families who may need help at very short notice or as an emergency so need to be contactable.

LemonPrism · 31/12/2019 18:26

@bloke23 yes you can. A friend was disciplined for something he said on a private WhatsApp group between a group of friends some of whom work with him

TerribleCustomerCervix · 31/12/2019 18:27

This thread is a laugh.

OP has been working there 6 years so can’t just be sacked, is a union member and has a text from her manager calling her a fucking cow.

She is not about to be sacked. In fact, if the manager has a brain in her head, she’ll forget the whole thing as a manager harassing and swearing at staff is a much bigger deal than an hourly employee not being willing to work overtime at short notice.

Catsick36 · 31/12/2019 18:33

You could have said you were drunk and weren't fit to drive or work.

Dangerfloof · 31/12/2019 18:46

You could have said you were drunk and weren't fit to drive or work
The first message from OP is at 10.51 am.
No one sensible would be drunk at that hour

Redglitter · 31/12/2019 18:57

You could have said you were drunk and weren't fit to drive or work

She shouldn't need to make up excuses. It's her say off. A firm and polite no.is sufficient

ThomasShelbysBunnet · 31/12/2019 19:37

I once worked in a local pub and was on rota for new years eve. I was young and silly, called in 'sick' and then went in for a drink on my way to the party I was going to.
Not entirely sure how I didn't get sacked for that one tbh.
OP, enjoy your Nye plans. It'll be fine.

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/12/2019 19:40

Dangerfloof
The first message from OP is at 10.51 am.
No one sensible would be drunk at that hour

The OP wouldn't have to be drunk. just have had an alcoholic drink. Or be hungover from the night before.

cherryblossomgin · 31/12/2019 19:45

I would tell her that she could cover and to stop harassing me. You worked Christmas.

ButtonandPickle19 · 31/12/2019 19:55

As a manager of a 24/365 service I can see both points of view and you’ve both behaved badly. I would NEVER harass a team member to work/swear at them and my team would never dream to swear at me. they have far too much respect for me and I for them.

I can see that they are probably desperate to cover the shift, if it’s a role with a legal requirement on duty then it’s awful to think you could potentially break the law, put people at risk and feel your hands are tied.
But you are also not obligated to work.

I guess it depends on your role and what you do to depend on how you morally feel. As a manager I would be sucking up, offering incentives, split shifts etc etc not shouting at you and threatening. However, with the swearing at your boss you’ve made it that you’ve both behaved unreasonably

BaolFan · 31/12/2019 19:58

ButtonandPickle19 if someone told me that I was a "fucking cow" then damn right I'd tell them to go fuck themselves.

Insideimsprinting · 31/12/2019 20:08

I'm guessing the people feeling sorry for the manager are shit managers themselves who would also quite happily swear at their employees because they won't help you with your problem. hmm

No we just see the other side. I have been the employee with the views of most pp, I have worked 24/7 365 jobs so have experience. I have seen colleagues behave appalling toward their work, and managers to. I now work as a manager and deal with it first hand over the last 6 yes I have had to deal with all sorts of stuff from staff some good, some bad and some very questionable behaviour.
Based on all of this I can state that knowing what the manager in this case knew of how the staff have collectively behaved in blocking her number i would be appauld and find it difficult to deal with when simple honesty in the first instance would have been enough. I swift no I can't sorry end of instead of number blocking which is immediately defensive and would get most peoples back up. Yes manager was unprofessional but following some very trying and questionable behaviour from staff. Op has offered no reason as to why this was justified and why they couldn't have just answered a genuine call for cover and again been honest, Frank and professional.

MistyCloud · 31/12/2019 20:15

@Insideimsprinting

The employers probably collectively blocked the manager's number because the manager has form for bothering them/hounding them when they're not rostered on, and they didn't want to be harassed on their day off. You can hardly blame them! They would not have all blocked her/avoided her for nothing!

If (SOME) managers weren't such jerks, their 'underlings' wouldn't feel the need to block and avoid them when they're off on their 'BOOKED' holiday leave.

You reap what you sow!

MistyCloud · 31/12/2019 20:20

@cherryblossomgin

I would tell her that she could cover and to stop harassing me. You worked Christmas.

Yeah this. ^

MistyCloud · 31/12/2019 20:20

@TwentyViginti

It's true that employers have the upper hand now and treat staff like 24 hour on-call robots. Going to get worse too, as our Dear Leader will do away with EU instigated workers rights as soon as legally possible. Unions are weakened, and the gig economy further erodes workers rights. Minimum wage Employees kowtow out of fear.

We are slipping back to Victorian times and not in a good way.

You can't blame Brexit for any of this. OR the Tories/Boris Johnson.

It's been like this for the best part of 2 decades. Many employers (during this time,) have been treating staff like shit, making them feel grateful to have a job, letting them know they can leave if they don't like it, and giving no pay rise in a decade and a half (only the 'cost-of-living' one they are forced to give,) whilst bosses cream off all the profits and bonuses, and give themselves the best shifts/working hours/freebies etc....

I know some people love to blame the Tories and Brexit for anything and everything, but blaming either one for the shitty way many employees are treated (and have been for the last 18-20 years or so,) is a bit of a reach.

Swipe left for the next trending thread