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AIBU?

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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:
Someonesayroadtrip · 31/12/2019 22:24

Wow! Hope you're enjoying your night out. I don't think swearing at her was the right course of action but it will be interesting to see if she tries to argue that with your evidence.

MrsRagnarLothbrok · 31/12/2019 22:27

someone who is genuinely ill would not have the time to let others know that they were "ill" and warn them to ignore the boss calls.

All very immature and unprofessional, just answer the phone and say no, so that the boss can ask someone else, you all made a stressful situation worse.

The boss was also very unprofessional for swearing at you, that is not acceptable

FruitcakeOfHate · 31/12/2019 22:43

In the future, do not answer any calls on days off except from family or get a burner phone. Your colleague is a disk to have pulled the 'ill' card.

Also 10.51am isn't too early to be drunk if you are used to working nights. I did nights decades ago and we'd party after work at 7am.

Insideimsprinting · 31/12/2019 22:53

I have posted a lot o this usually in the defence of the employer.

Mabe this should be the lesson to learn about not taking any set of circumstances for granted in life, my views are much more provocative than I have posted...... But however this may pan out I'm now a bit tiddly so with the best regard to all, dodge manager, questionable staff etiquette whatever. Hope it all works out for all despite the difference in opinion.

All the best to all in the new year. Graham Norton God damn you you bring out the best in me. Hope it rubs off on all.

The fact that I'm pissed has absolutely no bearing on this post honest😳

DrManhattan · 31/12/2019 22:55

Swearing at your line manager might be gross misconduct

Insideimsprinting · 31/12/2019 22:56

Hee Hee shit sorry! Honestly despite the fact I could keep going all the best everyone 😜

Effiedg · 31/12/2019 23:08

It sounds like the manager threatened the OP. The swearing from the OP was uncalled for. Maybe the staff the manager called need to have a chat and see what was said to all of them. It could be useful and there is more power as a group or even just knowing what was said to everyone.

GaaaaarlicBread · 31/12/2019 23:12

It was all ok on your part and it was looking good for you until you told her to go f herself . That’s a pretty good reason for a manager to take action if I’m honest . Good luck though . You maybe should’ve said you were looking after a relative or something a bit more reasonable

StrawberryIsMyJam · 31/12/2019 23:40

You should have just said that you had been drinking.
My boss has sometimes phoned me to ask if I can go in to cover when someone has phoned in 'sick' for the late shift on a Saturday.
My first response was always to say ' oh I can't, I've had a drink and I'm over the limit '. Even though I'd had nothing stronger than coffee.

OneForMeToo · 31/12/2019 23:48
Grin
Interestedwoman · 01/01/2020 01:15

You told your boss to go fuck herself? Erm, yeah, most employers would frown on that.

Fros · 01/01/2020 02:08

I think it will depend on your contract: in a previous 24/7 365 type job my contract said in an emergency I was required to work with 8 hrs notice, (however this was clear when I applied for the job)
In the first few years it was only used once, but when we were short staffed and the higher-ups refused to recruit, it started to be used frequently (and yes they always asked single/childless staff first) - while it wasn't the only reason why I changed jobs, it did tip the balance.

It's not in my contract for my current job, so any manager who wants me to cover with less than 48hrs notice is told I'll only agree if they cover expenses(taxi to work+meal) & travel time, pay double rates & I get a day off in lieu (of my choice, not when it's convenient for them). First manager laughed as he thought I was joking, but I insisted he sent an email confirming his agreement to these terms before I left the house... Surprisingly enough I'm not the first person they ask GrinWink

If I were you I would consider asking for this to be pulled, if you deny swearing at your manager but they have a copy of this thread (where you've stated that you did, and that you intend to lie about it) , well I can't see it going very well.

CharlottesPleb · 01/01/2020 02:37

Good winter she said “Don’t be such a fucking cow, I can’t get anyone else to do it.”

Was your "go fuck yourself" in response to this?

If so then I think you should articulate that. Your manager has stepped outside the bounds of professional behaviour and into the realm of personal insults and aggressive, confrontational expletives. Presumably you would move heaven and earth to help but it was not in your power to do that at that point.

To expect her subordinates to bow and scrape meekly in the face of being sworn at and insulted in their own time over the phone, because if they don't just take it they will lose their jobs, that is not reasonable, it is actually a grea example of bullying behaviour and abuse of their authority (and employee trust).

My thoughts: If she doesn't want to be responded to like she is a personal confrontation she should hunt people outside work to swear angrily at them. It is not much to ask of a manager to behave in a minimally professional way.

If you can, I'd get another job lined up, this sounds like an incompetent manager who thinks they are entitled to shit on you personally and punish you for showering. This story doesn't end well in my experience.

CharlottesPleb · 01/01/2020 02:38

Sorry for the long post, might be a tad tipsy! Happy New Year Xmas Grin

Pixxie7 · 01/01/2020 02:54

Sounds like somewhere I used to work, if she is the supervisor it is her responsibility to cover the shift. If you have evidence about the way you were treated she could well find herself facing a tribunal for bullying. I would send her an apology for swearing but point out it was not your responsibility to cover the shift particularly as you had worked Christmas.
If she tries to fire you bring a case of bullying against her.

MiniGuinness · 01/01/2020 03:08

I told her to go fuck herself.
What kind of job do you do that you speak to each other like this? Surely they are 10a penny? Professionals don’t talk like this. Just walk and find another shit job in the new year.

Salad01 · 01/01/2020 03:13

My boss uses social media to contact and looks if u are awake etc I work in 24/7industry I came off social media and only answer phone if I want to!!dont have answer machines coz they leave you messages to go in!!ignore play dumb!!!!

EBearhug · 01/01/2020 03:45

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

You can blame the Tories - quite a few rights were changed in 2014 (though some round tribunal costs have since been reversed.)

EBearhug · 01/01/2020 03:53

many employers don't allow their employees to join a union.

How do they stop them? They can't treat you less favourably for being a member, nor tell you to leave. My employer didn't know I was a union member till I had to go through a disciplinary last year. My dues go out from my account in direct debit after I have been paid. There isn't a recognised union, because not enough of the workforce are members, but I am jolly glad I had them to call on.

StrawberryIsMyJam · 01/01/2020 05:19

No-one can prevent you from joining a union. It's your legal right.
Even if your work place doesn't have a union or a rep, you can still join one.
An employer who disallows or infers that an employee will be disciplined for being a union member will find themselves in extremely hot water.

ivykaty44 · 01/01/2020 05:41

It’s illegal to prevent someone from belonging to a union

KatherineJaneway · 01/01/2020 06:37

Well in that case KatherineJaneway the ops boss should be sacked as well..

Never said she shouldn't Manon

fantasmasgoria1 · 01/01/2020 06:59

I worked in a place and I was allocated Christmas day off. Now someone called in sick for the high needs unit. No one answered calls etc and the operations manager had to cover it. When I went back my manager said how disgusted he was the the ops manager had to work on Christmas day and someone should have covered it. I did not say anything but I thought for a kick off he didn't go in and then why does he think the ops manager has more right to Christmas day off than any junior member of staff! You have done the right thing by sticking with what you said.

marylou1977 · 01/01/2020 07:21

So did you find out who worked the shift?

Sparklybaublefest · 01/01/2020 08:33

what a shitty place where people Block their boss.
do you all actually expect to have work available to you with that attitude.