Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

boss has rostered me more than colleagues

26 replies

coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 09:39

so we are due to return to work next week... 'team leader' sent round the rota today and I'm on more than the other members of the team, even though I'm not even part of their team. Just to explain, team leader has a big (6) team and then she manages me and one other person as a separate team. the other person on this small team is shielding so is not coming back, just wfh. So team leader decided I should be rostered in with the big team. Even though I used to be in a separate office and had little to no contact with them. But looking at the rota I'm scheduled in more than her own big team. I'm so pissed off. I'm 20 years older than most of them, I have kids, I just feel like she's doing it to make a point, or something I don't know. Also she has put me on with her all the time. Oh guys I'm so dreading it. I don't like her at all. 8 hours a day just me and her. Its going to be so deadly. And it means I'm going to be on the reception counter, as she hasn't rostered in any of the admin assistants to do it. Which will mean interacting with the public all day long. AIBU. Time to just suck it up I guess.

OP posts:
overacupofcoffee · 10/09/2020 09:45

Bugger to be in a position of being the one chosen to fill more hours
Unfortunately being adaptable and flexiable is a big part of being employed as a parent or not all employed people have commitments.
How about looking at it that lucky your back at work have a income and learn to tolerate and work with a challenge.
Or quit I'll take it

Nottherealslimshady · 10/09/2020 09:53

Will you be paid the same or based on the hours you work?

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 09:53

Thanks I know I'm lucky :) I'm just stressing out. I worked in the same office as this boss before xmas for a week and it was so deadly. She watches the clock , looks over my shoulder, just constantly checking up on me, and she makes these 'funny' remarks all the time, like the last one was how she wished all her team could get corona virus to 'get it out of the way' so we can all get back to work properly. I'm so anxious about it. I cant help but feel any nice person would see that I'm struggling - on my own in a new country with no family support, I don't know anyone, if I got the virus I don't know what I would do. I know, there are hundreds like me, but if she has a team of young single people, with no responsibilities, and who are at very little risk if they do catch the virus, and she chooses me to be on the counter more than anoyone else, and I'm not even in that team. Feels like she is making some kind of point. Any tips on how to just get over myself and suck it up. I cant stop worrying.

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 09:54

paid the same - we are all wfh at the moment - staggered return to work. she made the rota - apparently we cant all be in at the same time due to social distancing, so anyone not in will wfh

OP posts:
RB68 · 10/09/2020 10:04

I would point out that there is no admin in and it won't be possible to do your job and be constantly dealing with reception by yourself, or maybe assume you will both be working reception and maybe pop her an email asking if she want the am or pm shift so you can plan your normal work around that

D4rwin · 10/09/2020 10:11

Cant you just question why she has left the Rota unbalanced between the two teams. You might represent your team, but its unreasonable to expect one team to cover a public facing desk and let the other team have no public facing time.

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:12

Yeah that's a good idea. I have zero experience of reception, that's the other thing, I wont know the answer to the queries as I've never worked on the desk. Also I have a meeting scheduled for 9am on one of the days, on teams, so I said to her I would need to come in at 8 to prepare - pre-covid we would be 'allowed' to go home early at 4 that day, or another day, but she said 'well it's up to you but you wont be allowed to go home early as the desk has to be manned until 5pm every day'. Also, we she is supposed to coming to that meeting too, how will that work with the desk... Guess it's for her to sort out, I did try and mention it, but she shut me down. I thought it would be better for me to be wfh that day, as it's quite confidential, and with the desk open etc etc. She just seems determined that I need to be in, whatever the situation.

OP posts:
EL8888 · 10/09/2020 10:13

I would query why it’s not an equal split between all of you. The fact you are 20 years older than most of them and have children isn’t relevant, unless you have flexible working agreed

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:15

Yes I tried to say that to her but she shut me down. I mentioned it to the next boss up, but he said I was just there as a "body", as they needed "bodies" in the office and I wouldn't be on the desk... She doesn't think that though. She doesn't think she should be on the desk as she is the boss. So. It'll be me then? I dunno, I'm trying to be flexible and helpful, but its hard when you feel you're being treated unfairly. I think some of the other members of the team are quite strong characters. Maybe she is giving them what they want in terms of the rota, but she thinks I'm a soft touch.

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:17

Apparently one person is in quarantine for 2 weeks as he is only coming back from Greece next weekend.

I haven't been to see my family since Nov last. Maybe I should. And get 2 weeks wfh.

OP posts:
LookAtTheCahhOlivahhhhh · 10/09/2020 10:17

I would wonder if she believes that you can't WFH as effectively with children there.
I'd be asking if there was any reason for being asked to come in more as well.

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:24

children are at school. and she cant complain about my work - I've done more since wfh than when I was in the office, often working late in the evening, early morning, and preparing for meetings on a sunday. she gets more out of me when I am wfh! I'm scared to ask anything about the rota.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 10/09/2020 10:28

You have to either accept this or make a formal complaint , challenging her authority and going to her senior managers will not help the situation and you should be keeping formal records. No one has the right to wfh so you need to get the ‘poor me’ attitude on that closed down - this sense of entitlement over wfh , furlough etc at the moment is really showing people up

dottiedodah · 10/09/2020 10:29

This seems very unfair to me TBH .Have you got a Union ? Maybe ask them for opinions .It does seem as though she has singled you out ,maybe she has approached the others ,and they have turned her down flat! I am not sure of the law here,but according to ACAS (online) they should consult with you and try to be understanding of your wishes .However if you refuse to return to work without a valid reason you could face dismissal .Maybe see if you can appeal to her better nature and explain you are uncomfortable with the Reception work and feel that you are taking on the major workload and feel unhappy about it .She may have a decent side who knows!

Rowan8 · 10/09/2020 10:33

Take 2 weeks off sick, isolate and work from home.. I know idealbut sounds like you’re being targeted..Brew

Rowan8 · 10/09/2020 10:33

Meant not ideal...

damnthatanxiety · 10/09/2020 10:39

announce that you have developed symptoms and now need to self isolate for 2 weeks.... not very professional but when some treats you unfairly, sometimes it is all you can do -fight fire with fire

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:43

I don't think i'm a 'poor me' at all. Just looking for fair treatment. I don't know why she has rostered me and her on together all the time. I'd actually like to get to know the rest of the team as I don't know them at all. It feels like she is deliberately keeping me away from them. Like today she called a team meeting, but didn't invite me. I thought about it and ended up emailing her saying it might be helpful for me to attend as well. I mean, I'm either part of the team or not part of the team? I'm part of the team to shoulder all the working from the office, but not invited to team meetings? I'm trying really hard to just suck it up, but it's grating on me.

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 10:43

I think she would insist on me producing a corona test, and if it was negative she'd make me come in the very next day...

OP posts:
SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 10/09/2020 10:54

Why is it when people have a justifiable work complaint on MN people have to respond saying how they should be grateful to even have a job, and how people need to be flexible and bend over backwards to accomodate odd or unreasonable management requests?

Nowhere in the OPs post does she say she minds coming into the office, or even taking her turn at being on reception, she's mentioned having children but not said this means she should be exempt from anything. What she does feel is unfair and odd is that her previous work arrangements and the set up of the team now has completely changed to put her at a disadvantage from her colleagues. Should the Op be a complete pushover and accept this new way of working, just because she is greatful to have a job at all, or is it reasonable to challenge the rota that has been proposed?

I'd be annoyed at that rota too Op, sounds like your manager is trying to prove a point or doesn't like you very much. I hope you can get it changed.

LookAtTheCahhOlivahhhhh · 10/09/2020 11:22

@coffeelover3

children are at school. and she cant complain about my work - I've done more since wfh than when I was in the office, often working late in the evening, early morning, and preparing for meetings on a sunday. she gets more out of me when I am wfh! I'm scared to ask anything about the rota.
Yes that might be the case, but Managers are people too and may not be seeing it as objectively as you are. Working mothers are still stigmatised as being lazy, my own Manager told me that my colleagues resent me for working part time. I think it was projection from her.

Like others said, maybe she doesn't like you, or maybe she really wants to get to see you working as you're usually in another office. Can you ask for a supervision and say "I've noticed that I'm working in the office much more than the rest of the team..." let her explain why.

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 11:31

yeah I'm scared to say anything... I think she thinks I'm a trouble maker and she needs to keep an eye on me. I cant think of any other reason. I racked my brain and I don't think I've ever let her down, or not done what I was supposed to, or not met a deadline. It could be the kids thing - none of them have kids except me so maybe she's being 'ultra fair' to the others by not giving me any leeway. She's also put me on 'emergency cover' more than the others. I mean I have to get childcare organised, so I don't know how much notice I would get to come in that day or whatever. The trouble is there is nobody I can really go to - there was another boss who was over her, but she has left and not been replaced so...

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeelover3 · 10/09/2020 14:48

just had a team meeting - which I kinda gate crashed! She brought up the emergency cover, and I brought up the emergency cover and said I would need notice for childcare, and she just said, well you will have to come in. Luckily the other team members said they would cover for me if I couldn't get childcare. I really think she just has it in for me. she definitely has 'favourites'. Laughing and joking with the person still in Greece.

OP posts:
Elsewyre · 10/09/2020 15:36

"she manages me and one other person as a separate team. the other person on this small team is shielding so is not coming back,"

I you're the only one of your 2 person team able to come in surely that explains it?

I'm assuming your team does something separate too and isnt just redundant

LookAtTheCahhOlivahhhhh · 10/09/2020 15:36

Good for you for bringing it up. Put this is an email to yourself, note the date and times and exactly what was said.
Just in case.

Swipe left for the next trending thread