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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be getting really fed up with....

49 replies

meowmix · 03/09/2007 14:41

girls who work for me calling in in tears and asking to take days off because of fights with their boyfriends? these are boyfriends not husbands, no kids, average age 22/23/24, generally short term relns anyway. yes some of them end up splitting up but tbh I don't remember ever having the nerve to ask for a day off because of a breakup.

only I am getting fed up. really fed up.

and if AIBU then what is the sliding scale of boss compassion in your view?

OP posts:
gomez · 03/09/2007 14:43

Eh? Tell them to bugger of and get into work. You are mostly definately not being unreasonable.

Freckle · 03/09/2007 14:44

In the immortal words of my dh, tell them to pull themselves together .

Blimey, if they take a day off every time they have boyfriend problems, what will they be like with real life really happens??

FCH · 03/09/2007 14:47

Good god - wish I could phone up in tears and say I needed a day off to get over a fight with DH. Not that we do fight much but I'm sure I could come up with something if there was a day off at the end of it!!

HorseyWoman · 03/09/2007 14:52

Hmmm, probably expect this from a late teen, but not someone my age (24 in 4 weeks). But then again, I have been married for 4 years and so arguments with my 'BF' are an everyday occurrance; if I didn't go to uni/work, I'd be unemployed

Tortington · 03/09/2007 14:53

yanbu.

Hurlyburly · 03/09/2007 14:53

YANBU

RubySlippers · 03/09/2007 14:54

I wouldn't have the bottle to ring my boss and ask for a day off for this reason

YANBU

Piggy · 03/09/2007 14:55

YANBU.

Please tell me you don't pay them when they do this.

EmsMum · 03/09/2007 14:56

YANBU unless by fight they mean they had to go to A&E or the police station as abuse victim

Otherwise, they need to grow up.

Bouncingturtle · 03/09/2007 14:56

YANBU! My friend went into work after her cheating a*hole of a fiance dumped her a week and a half before their wedding day (they been together over 10 years). Tell 'em to get over it!
Incidentally, her boss sent her home and gave her a week off because she was somewhat shellshocked...

Original poster
meowmix · 03/09/2007 15:00

well thats the thing - shortly after I arrived here one girl caught her fiance with a man and her best friend, came into work, fell apart and I sent her home. Now I think they're taking the piss.

I tell them sternly that hard work is a grand cure for heartache and then give them 5 complicated things to do by lunchtime.

then I adjust my pince-nez and straighten my cameo brooch, pat my bun and get back to work myself in manner of elderly Miss Jean Brodie.

OP posts:
TheArmadillo · 03/09/2007 15:01

YAdefinatelyNBU

Original poster
meowmix · 03/09/2007 15:04

phew. I was beginning to think I was a heartless bitch.

OP posts:
HorseyWoman · 03/09/2007 15:53

Why would you be being heartless? You are running a business presumably. The world can't stop because of an argument with a boyfriend. Responsibilities still exist - 'oh couldn't feed the cat today as I was too heartbroken'... 'the bills will have to wait, my hearts broken in two'... Life goes on and people have to grow up and face the fact that they have responsibilities to other people as well as themselves.

flowerybeanbag · 03/09/2007 15:55

YANBU. Put your foot down.

emj23 · 03/09/2007 15:56

It's not being heartless at all, you have a business to run and they are being irresponsible. It annoys me enough when DP is called into work on his days off because other members of staff have phoned in sick due to hangovers, but being upset over an argument? That is absolutely no reason to miss work.

lizziemun · 03/09/2007 16:01

YANBU

God if i had done this my mum would have dragged me to work in my PJ's.

I would make it clear that they will loose either a day's pay or a day's holiday.

StealthPolarBear · 03/09/2007 16:15

definitely nbu
that's pathetic
do you have to pay them? does it count as a sick day?

amicissima · 03/09/2007 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 03/09/2007 16:24

YANot BU
Silly bints need to get a grip imo

WideWebWitch · 03/09/2007 16:26

Put them all on performance improvement plans
Sliding scale of boss compassion imo:

Lots of compassion for
bereavement
sick children
sick close relatives
car accidents
serious injury
psychitric issues

Not much for
dead rabbits
dead pets in general
hangovers
rows with boyfs
other pathetic stuff

Chirpygirl · 03/09/2007 16:28

YANBU, even DH agrees with me!
He says if one of his staff rang in with that as an excuse then they would be facing a discplinary meeting on their next day in work (glad I don't work for him)

OrmIrian · 03/09/2007 16:37

No. YANBU. But you knew that didn't you Perhaps you could offer relationship advice along with the refusal - something along the lines of 'Oh ffs get a grip!' I'd be tempted.....

motheroftwoboys · 03/09/2007 17:28

YANBU. They need to learn about life in the real world. Especially if you end up being freelance. Life what life?

Tinker · 03/09/2007 19:18

Are they asking to take a day's annual leave? Or some sort of special leave?