To think this is harsh?

[malificent7]

Signed up for agency work...mil died, therefore had to cancel shift as dp couldn't childmind dd. She regusef to go to childminder as highly anxious.
Then today my car broke down mid shift so now they wonn't need my services any more. I cannot bloody help it if mil dies, childcare falls through and car breaks down. Their loss.

[malificent7]

I let them twice...not 3 times. Three events happened...mil death, no childcare, car....leading to 2 let downs...not 3.

[malificent7]

I did show up...i have them a days notice notice the first time ( after telling them that dd might not like being left but i would cgeck....she said that was fine)
Also i did 3/4 shift today without lunch before car broke!

[malificent7]

Notice

[Ohtherewearethen]

How long are the shifts? You're saying you were promised five hours but only given two, you wouldn't really get a lunch break to speak of in a five hour shift, would you?

[Bluntness100]

How long is three quarters of a shift? Is it three hours? How many shifts have you actually done for them?

[damnthatanxiety]

You say it is not your fault that your car broke down but as far as a company would see it, you are required to have a working car. You failed to provide a working car. Your responsibility. If your alarm clock failed to go off would you also claim that wasn't your fault?

[Bluntness100]

@Ohtherewearethen

How long are the shifts? You're saying you were promised five hours but only given two, you wouldn't really get a lunch break to speak of in a five hour shift, would you?

That’s what I was thinking..

[heartsonacake]

YABU and conflating two issues: you being unreliable (through unfortunate circumstances) and their poor treatment of you (no lunch break etc).

They are two separate issues; it’s not a case of “well they did X so they should be able to waive my absences”.

Regardless of the circumstances, they couldn’t rely on you so yes they had to let you go; they’re running a business. If they’re as bad as you say they are then you’ve lucked out.

[heartsonacake]

And yes, if you are only doing 5 hours you don’t need a lunch break, so they are not being unreasonable there.

[CSIblonde]

Thats just what work is like.You need a back up plan ( for everything IME as life can go tits up any time, at warp factor speed) re childcare & transport . Otherwise you get labelled unreliable & there is a vast pool of other temps they can pick & choose from if you are having issues. Always have a plan b & lifes crappy bits are then just a blip .

[Runnerduck34]

I think agency was too harsh, you let them down once due to bereavement leading to childcare issues, which I think is completely understandable to any decent human being.
The second time you turned up worked half your shift when your car broke down which is just one of those things.
As OP said agency have also been unreliable, changing her shift times and hours to be worked.
She could have arranged and paid for childcare for hours that were then cancelled.
Its bloody annoying op , hope you find a better agency.

[Justanotherlurker]

Flattered that you researched me though!

It's OK, as long as you don't try and spin this as some unfair situation that the evil tories has done then I will accept your op as genuine.

I was going to give you a break what with the amount of anti tory threads you have posted that you was maybe being somewhat genuine until this.

Also, if i am promised 5 hours of work ( and pay) , I need 5 hours. I guess we are both being unreasonable and not a match made in heaven! Plus...i need lunch breaks!

Working 5 hours a day doesn't entitle you to a break, whilst your situation is shit, it is part and parcel of agency work and you missing 3 appointments whilst being relatively new will mean that you will be replaced, not only that but with your post history I am taking it as some faux veiled dig at the evil tories which you usually do and not wanting any serious constructive answers.

[Pixxie7]

Reliability is important in any job, what ever the reasons you let both your clients and agency down. You need to own it.

[BathshebaKnickerStickers]

Unfortunately the 3 most used excuses by all time wasters (not saying you are one at all) are

Death in the family
No childcare
Car broke down.

This is time wasters across the board from work places to free cycle...

Each one may be absolutely valid and genuine in your experience but they are absolute red flags to an employer.

You see bereavement, anxious child and unknown car problems but they see 3 massive red flags.

[malificent7]

Today's shift was 8.5 hours.
Only on mumsnet ...ME- " My mil died, my dd has anxiety, my car broke down and i lost my job."
Mumsnet -" Oh you hate the Tories don't you.??..i researched it you lazy, workshy communist benefit scrounging looser! Oh ...and you made a few grammatical errors!"

[malificent7]

And no...I am not going to sulk...i will still get agency work. Mil can only die once.

[Bluntness100]

@malificent7

Today's shift was 8.5 hours.
Only on mumsnet ...ME- " My mil died, my dd has anxiety, my car broke down and i lost my job."
Mumsnet -" Oh you hate the Tories don't you.??..i researched it you lazy, workshy communist benefit scrounging looser! Oh ...and you made a few grammatical errors!"

Well you kinda do hate rhe tories so not sure why you’re kicking off like it’s a heinous accusation..

[heartsonacake]

If you work different hours then of course whether you have a lunch break or not will change.

You are only entitled to a 20 minute break if you work over 6 hours.

[Lelophants]

I really feel for you op, but I agree that so many agency staff make it shit so Real cases like yours take the hit too :(

[flygirl767]

Can I ask what type of work were you doing for this agency? Just thinking if it is care work or similar where people are relying on you then YABU

[user1369875695412]

Businesses bloody exist to service the needs of humans. They don't have any higher purpose separate from humanity. I'm sick of us being so disconnected from what it even means to be human that we somehow think it's totally fine for people to be put in the dustbin for being humans not robots.

"You can't expect a business to accommodate your humanity, it would harm the needs of the business" is such a fucking idiotic concept.

[MitziK]

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Could your 12 year old not have stayed home whilst you worked? That would have only left the car incident which mid shift they may have been more willing to forgive.

I wouldn't have thought so when their grandmother's just died.

[malificent7]

I fail to see what hating the tories has anything to do with this thread...when did i mention it on this thread
The fact that i disapprove of some of their policies DOES seem to irk you in the extreme though Bluntness.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Mil can only die once

You're right, and I'm very sorry she has, but beelzeboob had a point ... among agency staff the inexhaustible supply of dying relatives, conked out cars, run over pets and exploding boilers is truly amazing

Of course that's not your fault at all, but sadly it's so common that when managers hear it yet again (especially from a recent recruit) a frequent response is "next ..."

[AnnaFour]

It does suck but yea those are pretty common bs excuses that agencies hear all the time. Obviously it’s crap since you were being genuine but I get why they didn’t want you anymore.